Chrstmas cooking...puppy chow

Ingredients:
9 cups chex cereal (I use corn)
1 cup choc. chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup margarine
1/4 tsp. vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
(I make adjustments depending on the size of the box of chex.)

Directions:

1.  Pour cereal in a large bowl. 

2.  Combine chocolate chips, peanut butter, and margarine in a separate bowl and microwave on 50% power.  Stir every 30-45 seconds.

3.  Stir in vanilla.

4.  Pour chocolate mix over cereal and toss until all are evenly coated.

5.  Place a third of the mix in a ziploc bag with 1 cup powered sugar.  Seal and shake until all pieces are white. 

6.  Spread on wax paper to cool. 

7.  Repeat with the other parts of mix until all is coated in powered sugar.

8. Store in an air-tight container. 

Makes a great gift to share with others around the holidays!

Christmas cooking...Tiger Butter

Ingredients:

6 oz. Almond Bark

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

6 oz. Semi-Sweet or Milk Chocolate chips

(My batch is doubled or tripled, depending on how much almond bark is in the package.)

Directions:

1.  Melt almond bark in microwave on low power (50%).  I do this in 30-45 second increments, stirring in between.

2.  Stir peanut butter in with almond bark.

3.  Line a 9X13" pan with wax paper and pour in mixture.

4.  In a separate bowl, melt chocolate chips.  Spoon over mixture.

5.  Use a knife on top to make swirls.

6.  Let harden in refrigerater 1-2 hours. 

7.  Break apart and serve. 

8.  I store extra in zip-loc bags.

365...Day 22

Ho Ho Ho!  Merry CHRISTmas!  We stopped at the nearby Keller bus barn last Friday night and had an impromptu visit with Santa.  Shane asked for a DS and a K'NEX roller coaster set (kind of like legos).  Sarah asked for a car charger and the LEGO Harry Potter game for her DS.  Boy are they growing up.  I went in Toys R Us a few weeks ago and realized that my "babies" have outgrown many of the toys there.  I basically was able to visit only the LEGO and electronics sections. 

It's that time again...

time to start working on holiday cards!  I just saw a great deal for 50 free cards from shutterfly!  I use shutterfly blogs for my girl scout troop and community group.  I have ordered their holiday (Christmas and Halloween) cards in the past and they were great quality and affordable.

To check it out ..click here

365... Day 1

A friend of mine takes pictures of every day stuff and updates in her Facebook account.  I thought that was a great idea, except, I wanted to blog instead so I could eventually ptint it in a blog/book... 24/7...365 days of our lives.

So, here is blog day one...now those of you that know me well, know that I am not very consistent with blogging.  It seems that LIFE somehow gets in the way.  But rest assured, my family and I are making memories everyday, I'm just too tired to BLOG about them at the end of the day.  I love to sleep!! 

Anyways, for now...here we go...

Day 1

My FAVORITE breakfast is pancakes and bacon.  This was the griddle my parents always used, and I love cooking for my family using it.  When my mom decided to get a new one a few years back, I was tickled to get it as a hand-me-down.  Every Christmas, my dad cooked a big breakfast, which we ate between Santa and opening presents.  Since Steve and I lived away from home for the first 12 years we were marrried, we were always at my parents for Christmas morning.  I sometimes tease my dad that he was lucky that all 3 of his kids were home for 31 years before he had to give up this Chirstmas morning tradition.  Now, I cook bacon, pancakes, and waffles (for everyone else) or sometimes biscuits and gravy for OUR big Christmas morning breakfast. 

Christmas letter

Sprowls News Herald -- 2009 Edition

Sarah – A second grader already? Sarah, 7, has finally decided that she loves reading (just like her mom, both grandmas, and her great-grandmother). She has made straight A’s both six weeks. (This is the first year she has received grades, and we are so very proud of her!) Last spring she played softball and this fall she played volleyball for the YMCA. She continues to love Girl Scouts and this year she is a Brownie. She spent a week at day camp and tried several other activities as part of Girl Scout’s Summer Extreme program. Sarah participates in Kid Serve at our church; this is a ministry where she performs puppets for Shane’s class. She is still very into Hannah Montana and anything creative. She has recently taken over the job of completing her own scrapbook pages. We enjoy working together to decorate the pages. We had the experience this year of having two pet hamsters (Princess, then Whiskers). Very cute and cuddly, but neither faired well health-wise, so we probably won’t get another one.

Shane – 4, is such a BOY! Always busy running, jumping, and climbing. He does stop to cuddle and can still barely fold his legs up so that he’ll fit in my lap. He attends preschool two days a week at Heritage Church of Christ again this year. He loves preschool, but doesn’t enjoy going to day care while Mommy works….partly because they make him nap and partly because he is spoiled and likes to be with Steve or me. He is looking forward to kindergarten next year at Sarah’s school. He played T-Ball both this spring and fall. He cannot wait to play again in the spring. He had a Star Wars birthday party and was a Storm-Trooper for Halloween. (Sarah was Princess Leia.) He still loves Disney cars, but has a new love for Hot Wheels and Battle Force 5.

Steve – still flies out of Dallas for Southwest. One of Steve’s favorite places to over-night is San Diego. We spent a week there this summer for a family vacation. We enjoyed the San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, and most of all Legoland. Gotta love free airline travel! While in CA, we got to meet Darren Sproles, the running back for the Chargers. Steve loves to her “Sproles scored a touchdown” announced on the TV. He has thoroughly enjoyed being back in Texas and getting to watch the Cowboys live at the new stadium. It is unbelievable! Steve has continued to focus on working out and running. From the time he started in May ’08, he has lost 30 pounds. He was under 200 for a few days before Thanksgiving. Girl Scout nuts and pumpkin pie have pushed him back to 200. After Girl Scout cookies in Jan and his birthday brownies, I’m sure he will work it back off! He still works with the Air Force reserves to interview high school students that would like to go to the AF Academy.

Shannon – My days as a full-time mom only lasted one semester. In January, I took a job as a long-term sub for a 4th grade Language Arts teacher that had a baby. Mid-way through, she resigned, so I stayed the rest of the school year at Justin Elementary. This fall, I tried something new – first grade. I spent 9 weeks with the little ones, learning how to teach reading and writing from the beginning. I loved the age level of the kids, but as always, trying to balance work and family was hard. I finished just before Thanksgiving, and am glad to be home again (for now…) I am Sarah’s Brownie leader again this year and enjoy the simple pleasures of taking my kids to and from school. Of course, I still scrapbook, but find myself doing more digital books these days. If you have a chance, visit our BLOG at creativescrapper.blogspot.com

Until next year, Steve, Shannon, Sarah, & Shane

** PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR ZIP CODE HAS CHANGED TO 76244

White Christmas

What an exciting Christmas gift! On Christmas Eve, it started snowing and it snowed all day long.  My parents took the kids to the movies and I went to the mall for some last minute sale shopping.  Without the kids in tow, it was so fun being amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday shoppers.  I spent the day at my parents, just visiting and watching the kids play.  I was afraid that with the snow storm, Steve wouldn't be able to land in Dallas afterall.  I figured I would rather stay safe and warm at my folks than drive home and be alone on Christmas morning. 

Steve did get to land and we both drove home safely to spend the night at our own house for Christmas morning.  Steve had a reserve line for December, so we were unsure is he would be home for Christmas or not.  We were willing to celebrate late in order to have Steve home.  He got called in for a two day trip on Wednesday the 23rd.  Luckily, he got home Christmas Eve and didn't get called in for the next two days.

We all enjoyed Christmas together and had fun playing in the SNOW Christmas morning.  The new pics on my blog are from Christmas morning.  Steve was able to set up our camera to take a picture with the timer so we could get a family shot.  I am thankful that he is not as stubborn as I am and he is willing to read directions. :)

Did you know? Santa cannot read

Shane got to visit with Santa today at his preschool Christmas party.  When I arrived, he told me that Santa cannot read.  When I asked him how he knew that, he said..."I sent him my list, but he still asked me what I wanted. He couldn't read my list." He told Santa that he wanted a double Lightsaber and an Incredible Hulk figure. 

He enjoyed his party and getting a new book.  It was fun to be able to be there and to just "be a mom!"

Great News! Santa doesn't have a budget!

Sarah and Shane were talking about their Christmas "lists" the other night in the car.  Shane looks through every ad and toy catalog that comes in our house and cuts out pictures for his list.  After he filled the third page with wanted toys (5 of which are different types of car racetracks), we started talking about one or two that he would REALLY like to have.  I explained that Santa has to get gifts for so many children, so he cannot get everybody all the things on their lists.  Therefore, he has narrowed down his list to include an Incredible Hulk figure and a double lightsaber that is red like Darthmaul's.

Anyway, he was asking Sarah what she REALLY wanted and trying to help her decide on two must-have items.  She wants the Paperoni craft kit and a Just Like You American Girl doll.  Another big item that Sarah has on her list is the American Girl doll Treehouse.  Shane reminded her of this item and we were talking about how this item is very expensive ($250).  He said, "That's OK, Mommy, Sarah can just get it from Santa."  Obviously our economy lesson didn't stick, but its nice that the kid dreams BIG!

Later on in the conversation, I overheard Shane asking Sarah if she had a little sister on her list.  He said that he was asking for a little brother.  Oh, my!

Christmas NEWSletter

Many of you receive our newsletter each year...for those of you that do not.
Here it is!

Sprowls News Herald -- 2008 Edition

Sarah – Our First Grader

Sarah, 6, continues to love school and currently wants to teach kindergarten or become a vet when she grows up. Last summer, Sarah played indoor soccer for the first time. She is involved with Daisy Girl Scouts and is an AWANA Spark. (AWANA is a children’s church program.) She is very into Hannah Montana, drawing, writing, coloring, stickers, and scrapbooking (just like her Mommy).

Shane - Preschooler

Shane, 3, continues to keep us busy. He attends preschool at Heritage Church of Christ two days a week, and stays home with mom or dad the other days. He is well behaved in school and enjoys learning new things. He can spell many words due to the songs he learns, and he picture “reads” books while Sarah is doing her homework. He is always climbing, jumping, swinging, and playing in the sand. Shane also played soccer this summer, and is currently an AWANA cubby. Steve is thankful that Shane has traded princess dress up shoes and Barbies for Disney Cars, Star Wars guys, and Superheroes. (It is hard to have a big sister with cool toys.)

Steve – Flying for Southwest

Steve still works for Southwest and finally became Dallas based in September. Yeah, no more commuting!!! He is still gone 3-4 days at a time, but now he sleeps home on nights before and after trips. He also works as an ALO (Academy Liaison Officer) as a reserve job. Basically, he interviews students that want to go to the Air Force Academy. Steve still has the REAL ESTATE bug and bought two more houses this year. His goal is to keep buying houses while they are so cheap, sell them in 2-3 years, and then to buy an apartment complex. This extra income will allow him to fly fewer trips for Southwest each month so that he’ll be home more.

Shannon – Full time mom…part time sub

Well, one year of full-time teaching made me realize that my heart really wanted to be back at home with our kids. It was a leap of faith, leaving a secure job and hoping to make it on Steve’s salary, but we are all so glad we jumped. I manage to keep myself busy, of course. I still sell Creative Memories scrapbooking supplies and hold monthly crops. I attend Ladies’ Bible study at our church, and I am Sarah’s Daisy Girl Scout leader. I enjoy helping out at Sarah’s school, and I usually sub one day a week. It is great to TEACH for a day and then walk out with the students with NO work or worries to take home.

Now that I have a little more time, I am trying to keep an updated BLOG about the day-to-day things we do as a family. To read about our adventures, visit us on the web at

creativescrapper.blogspot.com

Until next year, Steve, Shannon, Sarah, & Shane

Home: (817) 562-3249

Shannon: sprowlss@yahoo.com Cell (817) 287-9985

Steve: sprowler71@yahoo.com Cell (817) 739-7601

SANTA wrestling?

My son loves to wrestle, jump, slam, you name it. He is 100% BOY!! He also, like any other kid, loves SANTA. Right? Here he is with Santa, all is well. But...if we could see inside his little mind, we would see what was coming next.




I know, Santa usually gives presents, not CHOKE-HOLDS. But this is only the beginning. Here at least they are still sitting friendly (?) on the couch. Wait until you see what is to come...
















Sorry Cari :)







Now, those of you with little girls only are probably APPALLED. But, boys are a different species altogether. You never know what they will do. As a mom, you have two choices. Gasp, scream, and correct the situation...or grab a camera and keep the memory alive for blackmail later on. ;)

Gingerbread houses

My friend Cari decided last year to let the kids create
gingerbread houses at her house. What a fun tradition. The
kids love to use the icing to stick on candies and I'm sure they
ate quite a few, too. Grandy came and helped the kids this
year.






Here is Shane's masterpiece. After he was finished, he enjoyed playing in the backyard with Lauren and the other kids,

Sarah on the other hand, spent ALL of her two hours decorating her house.

North Pole Express

Make a Smilebox slideshow