We all went to Canton Sunday night to see all the lights. The kids had a good time riding the train, fire truck, and carrousel. All the lights were really pretty. It neat what they have set up there. We all ate at Cock of the Walk afterwards. Below are pictures from Canton.

Christmas Cards............

These are pictures that Dennis may use in his Christmas Cards. I took a picture of Abbey and Brandon by the Christmas tree last year and I want do take one every year. You know, a Christmas tradition.

Easy Mashed Potato Casserole

2 teaspoons butter or margarine
16 medium green onions, sliced (1 cup)
1 med. Yellow or orange bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
3 cups hot water
1 cup half-and-half or whole milk
¼ cup butter or margarine
1 package roasted garlic mashed potatoes (2 pouches)
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (6 oz)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 quart casserole with cooking spray. In 10 inch non-stick skillet, melt 2 teaspoons butter over medium – high heat. Cook onions and bell pepper in butter 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; set aside. In 2 quart saucepan, heat water, half-and-half, and ¼ cup butter to boiling; remove from heat. Stir in both pouches of potatoes (and seasoning) just until moistened. Let stand about 1 minute or until liquid is absorbed. Beat with fork until smooth. Spoon 1 1/3 cups of potatoes into casserole; top with half of the onion mixture and ¾ cup of the cheese. Spoon another 1 1/3 cups potato over cheese; carefully spread to cover. Sprinkle evenly with remaining onion mixture. Top with remaining potatoes; carefully spread to cover. Sprinkle with remaining ¾ cup of cheese. Bake uncovered about 30 minutes or until hot.

Weekend in New Orleans

Dennis and I had a great time in New Orleans this weekend. We got there around 2:00 and checked in the hotel. We walked around the French Quarter for a while and then got ready to go eat. I loved The Red Fish Grill last time so we went there to eat again. The oysters are WONDERFUL. Afterwards, we went to the piano bar at Pat O’s. It was fun as well. We saw a girl that had her wedding dress on. Yes, in the bar at Pat O’s. I had never heard of a reception at a bar in the middle of everyone, but then again I am from Mississippi not Louisiana. The girl was so drunk. She was dancing with everyone and I even saw her kiss a few people. Hopefully she knew them. Her dress was so nasty at the bottom. Her train was tucked into the back of her dress but at some point it had fallen and was dragging the ground. I was in the bathroom and I saw a girl from the wedding party so I asked her if this was indeed a reception. She said “Oh no, this is just the party after the reception.” She told me that the reception was from 2:00 until 6:00 and the people weren’t ready to end it yet so that brought it to Pat O’s. What a crazy night those people must have had.

Later on about 5 guys dressed up like Santa Clause came in the bar. I have no idea what they were doing. One of the ladies that was playing the piano and singing said that the malls must have closed and they were off duty. It was pretty funny. Like people always say, you never know what you are going to see in New Orleans.

Dennis is finally coming back from Las Vegas today. He has only been gone 4 days but it seems like forever. I am picking him up at the airport at 5:00. By the way he’s been talking, he had a really good time. He saw several celebrities and even met a few. I think his favorite was the lead singer from The Killers. He loves that band so I was glad he got to meet him. He is pretty warn out. If you’ve never been to Vegas, you do A LOT of walking. I went shopping while he was gone. My mom took me to the Boardwalk in Shreveport, LA on Monday so that I could get my Christmas presents from her and my dad. It was a really nice place. It was SO cold though. It was an outdoor mall so we had to go outside to get in each store. I was so ready to turn the heater on in the car. I got a lot of cute things for Christmas. I can’t wait until I get them.

I am so sad. My favorite Mexican restaurant in Jackson closed. I was excited when they opened about 6 months ago because there has been one in every town I’ve lived in and now the one in Jackson has closed. I went last night to get something to go and there was a sign on the door. Oh well, there is still one by the Dogwood Mall that I can eat at. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. Yummy!!!!

Cute Pics..........

Chicken Enchilada Quiche

1 Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust (from 15 oz. box), softened as directed on box
4 eggs
1 cup half-and-half or milk
1 can (12.5 oz) chunk chicken breast in water, drained (1 ½ cups)
1 ½ cups broken tortilla chips
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup salsa
1 can (4.5 oz) green chiles
½ teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste
Sour cream, if desired

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place pie crust in 9 inch glass deep-dish pie pan as directed on box for One-Crust filled pie. In medium bowl, beat eggs with wire whisk until blended. Beat in half-and-half. Stir in chicken, chips, both cheeses, 1 cup salsa, green chiles, and salt. Pour into crust-lined pan. Sprinkle pepper over top of filing. Bake 55 to 65 minutes or until crust is light golden brown and knife inserted into center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Cut into wedges. Serve with sour cream and/or salsa.

Squash Dip

1 medium butternut squash, halved and seeded
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 whole head of garlic
1 (11oz) log goat cheese
1 lemon, juiced
¼ cup finely chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 3510 degrees. Brush the cut side of the squash halves with some of the olive oil, and place them oiled side down on a baking sheet. Cut the top off the head of garlic, and drizzle the remaining oil over it. Wrap in aluminum foil, and place on baking sheet with the squash. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the squash can easily be pierced with a fork. Scoop the squash out of its skin, and place in a serving bowl. Squeeze the cloves of garlic out of their skins, and into the bowl with the squash. Mash until smooth. Stir in the goat cheese and lemon juice until well blended. Sprinkle walnuts over the top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Happy Birthday Dennis!!!!!

Today is Dennis's 27th birthday. He is in Las Vegas so I didn't get to celebrate it with him. We are going to New Orleans this weekend so this will be are birthday time. He will be back from Vegas Thursday night and I can't wait to see him.

Artichoke Spread

1 (14 oz) can artichoke hearts, drained)
1 (8oz) package cream cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, peeled
¾ teaspoon dried dill weed

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the artichoke hearts on a food processor and process until smooth. Process the cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, garlic, and dill with the artichoke hearts until the mixture is smooth and well blended. Transfer to a 9 inch pie pan. Bake in the preheated oven 10 to 15 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly browned.

Bacon Cheese Treats

1 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese, softened
1 (12 oz) jar bacon bits
1 pinch ground black pepper, or to taste
¼ cup diced onion
2 (8oz) packages refrigerated crescent roll dough

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, bacon bits, pepper, and onion. On a lightly floured surface, unroll the crescent rolls lengthwise and form into a long rectangle. Thinly spread the cream cheese mixture on the dough. Starting with the long edge of the rectangle, roll the dough into a long, thin, roll. Slice the roll into ¼ inch think pieces. Place rolls on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, to until brown.

Artichoke & Roasted Red Pepper Dip

2 tablespoons butter
1 leek, diced
2 (6.5 oz) jars marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 (7oz) jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons mayonnaise

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Saute diced leek until tender. Stir in the artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, Parmesan cheese, and mayonnaise. Transfer to an 8x8 inch baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until bubbly and lightly browned.

Spicy South of the Border Spinach Cheese Dip

1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (14.5 oz) can whole peeled tomatoes, drained and chopped
1 (4oz) can diced green chiles, drained
1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
10 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup half-and-half cream
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sauté onion in skillet over medium heat in oil until softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and chiles, let cook 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and stir in spinach, cheese, cream cheese, half-and-half, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon mixture into shallow baking dish like a 9 inch quiche dish or pie plate. Bake ion the preheated oven until the dip is bubbly and the top is light brown, about 35 minutes.

Green Bean Casserole

2 cans (14.5 oz each) French style green beans, drained
1 can (10 ¾ oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
¼ cup milk
1 can (2.8 oz) French-fried onions

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In 1 ½ quart casserole or glass baking dish, mix green beans, soup, and milk. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, topping with onions during last 5 minutes, until bubbly.

Busy, Busy Holiday.........

The Thanksgiving holiday was very busy this year. Dennis and I were on the go the entire time. Thursday morning we got up and went to my grandparent’s house and ate lunch at my aunts. It was really nice catching up with family. My mom and I got up Friday morning at 4:15 and went to Wal-Mart to get a few things they had on sale. We were back in the bed asleep by 6:00. We got up and went to Starkville and stayed at my sister’s apartment. I was exhausted by that night. We all got up and went to the Egg Bowl (MSU vs. Ole Miss) on Saturday. Ole Miss won but State played them a good game. We had a good time. I was ready to be home that night. Dennis got his kids early on Sunday and we went to his grandmothers. She had him a little birthday party at lunch. He will be out of town next Sunday so she had it yesterday. It felt good to get in bed last night but I didn’t want to get up this morning and come to work. It was nice having a few days off. I sure could get use to that.

Sunday night when Brandon was taking a bath, Dennis gave him a mohawk. It was so cute.

Bulldog Weekend

We had a great time at MSU this past weekend. The game was exciting and Abbey and Brandon had a good time.

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole:

3 cups cooked, diced chicken
1 pkg. Uncle Ben’s wild rice, cooked as directed on box
1 med. Jar diced pimentos, drained
½ cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
1 can cream of celery soup
1 sleeve Ritz Crackers, crushed
1 can French-style green beans, drained
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients except cheese and crackers. Pour into greased 9x13 dish. Mix cheese and crackers together for topping and spread evenly over top. Bake 25 – 30 minutes at 350 degrees, or until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.

It has been awhile since I last posted. Things have been pretty busy lately and it looks like they are just going to get busier with the holidays coming up. This weekend we are going back to Starkville to watch the football game. Brandon wanted us to take him to another game so we are going for the last one at home. Hopefully the weather will be nice. We are planning on getting there early so Abbey and Brandon can see the mascot and we can walk around and tailgate some.

A few weekends ago, my dad took Abbey and Brandon flying in the airplane. I wasn’t sure how they would do but they ended up loving it. Abbey was disappointed when I told her we were about to land. She wanted to keep flying. I was ready to get back on the ground. It makes me nervous to fly in a little airplane. I’m still not comfortable doing it yet. Brandon enjoyed talking into the microphone on the headset. I think he just liked hearing himself talk. I left my camera so I didn’t get any pictures of their first time in an airplane. Oh well, maybe I can get one of their first ride on a jet.

Dennis is going to Las Vegas with work in a few weeks. He will be gone on his birthday. :( We are going to celebrate when he gets back. My mom and I are going shopping one day while he is gone so I am looking forward to that. He is really excited about going. He has never been to Vegas. I went a few years ago and would love to go back someday. It is a happening town. Maybe he will have some free time so that he can see a few things while he is there. He is staying in Caesar’s Palace, which was probably one of my favorite casinos, so he really want have to venture off to far because it is big and has are lots of things to do there. It had a mall in it and I love to shop so now you see why I liked it.

Dennis and I went and ate at Bravo last night for Lauren, my roommate’s birthday. She turned 25 yesterday. There were about 20 people there. It was nice to see people that I have not seen in a while. We all just talked and ate dinner. My pasta was wonderful and Dennis’s mashed potatoes were the best. I was so full when I left.

Well, that’s about all for now. Rebecca goes back to the doctor tomorrow for her 12 week checkup. She will hear the baby’s heartbeat again so I am excited to see how it goes. I can’t wait to find out what she is having.

Lasanga Roll Ups

1 pound lean ground beef or ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
2 squash, sliced
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce (garlic flavored)
A handful of sliced mushrooms
2 eggs
8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
4 ounces shredded parmesan cheese
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup dried bread crumbs, seasoned
1 (16 ounce) package lasagna noodles

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a medium size skillet cook ground beef. After beef is browned, add chopped onion and squash, mushrooms, and stir until vegetables are tender. Stir in the can of garlic flavored tomato sauce.
2. In a large bowl mix the eggs, half of the shredded mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, milk, and bread crumbs.
3. Boil noodles. Drain and lay each noodle flat on wax paper. Spread the egg/cheese mixture on each noodle, top with the meat mixture and roll up. Place each roll up side by side in a 9 x 13 casserole dish on top of a layer of tomato sauce (save some for the top as well). Top lasagna roll ups with the remainder of the tomato sauce, remainder of the mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese.
4. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's 50th birthday. Happy Birthday Mom!

Photo and video editing at onetruemedia.com

We had a Halloween Party at work today. My department came as a "Slumber Party". we all wanted to be comfortable to we decide on this.

Ok, so I finally have time to post the funny story from the football game this past Saturday. This may not be funny to you, but it was definitely hilarious if you had to sit in front of this guy for 3 hours. I wouldn’t say this guy was retarded but all of screws weren’t there. The people in Starkville call him the “Amen Preacher” because he says amen after just about every word. If I had to hear Bulldogs Amen, Mississippi State Amen, Mississippi State Bulldogs Amen any more I thought I would scream. He said it at least 100 times. He said amen to the Kentucky Wild Cats, cowbells, jackets, stickers, and the siren when we made a touchdown. If the bulldogs would make a bad play he would say still #1. After a few times of that my mom looked at me and said obviously he has not come to many game this season. For about the first hour, I was laughing so hard that tear would come to my eyes. This really made the game more interesting.

MSU vs. Kentucky

Well, we had another football game this weekend that we lost. Dennis and I went with my parents to the game. I will post a funny story tomorrow that happened at the game. It is pretty funny. Below is a picture that was taken of us with the mascot.

My parent's took Dennis and I to the Doobie Brothers concert in Philadelphia Friday night. We all had a really good time. Below are a few pictures that I took:

No pictures!

The pictures from Abbey's school program didn't turn out. My camera didn't like the lighting in the church. It was also hard to see her from where we were sitting. Oh well. Maybe she will have another one this year.

Will it be a girl or boy?

My friend, Rebecca, from work is pregnant. She told me on Friday as I was leaving. She walked out with me and opened her bible and there was a sonogram. I was SO shocked but very excited at the same time. She is 9 weeks today and her due date is May 31st. She told our office yesterday and everyone was very excited for her. I can’t wait to find out what she is having. The Chinese calendar is saying it will be a girl. We will have to wait until January to find out. She will be so cute pregnant.

Abbey has a school program tonight. She is a Chinese girl. They are studying different cultures in school. It was originally outside but because of this nice weather it will be at a church next to her school. I will try and take some pictures and post them tomorrow.

Friday night Dennis and I are going to Philadelphia with my parents. My mom’s 50th Birthday is coming up and my dad is taking her to the see the Doobie Brothers. The called and asked us to go. I am sure that we will have a good time.

Saturday we are getting up and going to watch MSU play Kentucky in Starkville. The game is at 1:30 so the weather should be nice. We will also be able to get home at a decent hour.

Abbey has a school program Thursday night. I will take some pictures and post them on Friday.

Dress Up!

Abbey always like to put on my shoes and wear them around the house. Last night she had on my boots. Brandon saw her and went and put on Dennis's shoes. It was so cute that I had to take a picture of it.

More pictures from the hayride:

Hayride

The hayride was fun again this year. We got there about 4:30 and the kids were playing and it started raining. We had to move the food to the front porch and eat wherever you could find a place. We still had the hayride though. Instead of having it on a trailer, we all got in the back of a horse trailer and rode around. Abbey and Brandon still had a good time. It wasn't near as cold this year. I guess the closed trailer helped out a lot. Below are pictures from the hayride:

Not much has been going on this week. Just work, eat, and sleep. You know the usual. We didn’t do much this past weekend either. Dennis didn’t have his kids so he worked. This coming up weekend we have a hayride at a girl’s house I work with. Abbey has been looking forward to it for a while. She asked me back in June or July when we were going back to the hayride. It was fun last year and I am sure this year will be the same. I will post pictures hopefully next week.

The Fair is Back!

My parents took all of us to the Fair on Sunday. We met and ate lunch at O'Charley's and then went to the Fair. For some reason only one picture will post on here. I upgraded to Blogger Beta and have regretted it ever since. My pictures will not post anymore. Maybe I will figure it out soon and I will post the rest of the pictures. Anyway - the weather was really nice on Sunday and everyone had a good time. Thanks mom and dad for taking us. We had a really good time.

Dennis's mom took us to the Fair on Saturday. We had a really good time and it was very nice outside. The kids had a good time riding the rides.

Little Midgets

Friday night we went and ate supper at Dennis's sister's house. Taylor and Abbey came in the living room and showed us how they could look like a midget. It was hilarious. They actually looked like little midgets. We put Taylor's shoes on Brandon to make him look like one. He was the funniest of them all becasue his little legs looked so real. You can kind of see from the pictures below.

Dennis painted these pictures for us. One is for his room and one is for my room. He did a really good job. I was very impressed. I can't wait to hang mine up.

Cute Pictures of Abbey and Brandon