Ellen's Spaghetti Sauce...Not From a Jar!!

One of our favorite meals... Sorry these photos are a bit out of order. This is the sauce simmering all day in my new Crock-Pot. My house smelled so good.

My very willing taste tester. I used rice pasta (gluten-free) and it turned a little mushy. I also made garlic bread out of hamburger buns that were a little dry, they turned out yummy!

The ingredients. I also add mushrooms...and then ground beef near the end.

The recipe card...all tattered and dirty...well used.

The Marinara Sauce recipe comes from my BFF's Mother!! (Hi Kris and Ellen) She wrote the recipe down for me and brought it to my bridal shower nearly 18 years ago, and I have made the sauce often. I do not alter her recipe at all, I make it the same exact way...ALWAYS!! Tomatoes are so good for you, and I learned in one of my Nutrition classes that canned tomatoes are often better and more concentrated.

Wordless Wednesday #14 ~ My Kitchen Assistant

Don't worry...she licks them clean BEFORE the dishwasher sanitizes them. It's not good when she gets ahold of a knife!!

For my dog-lover friends...she doesn't do this on a regular basis, only when I forget to close the dishwasher. I know it's not a good idea...

Decorating With HEARTS!!

This week I have been decorating for Valentine's Day. I decided this year to do a "pink, hot pink, and white" theme. I usually opt for red,so I had to make a lot of new things. It turned out cute...if I do say so myself.

My entry table. The frames with the words are just frames that I had and I printed the words on pretty scrapbook paper. Easy and cheap!

Another small table in my front room. Will you be my Valentine?

Dinner in San Clemente

This is where the "good" husbands sit while their wives browse through the antique shops and all the quaint little stores.

Calamari...yuck!

Tonight we met Mom and Larry in San Clemente for dinner. It was a great meal, great service, and great company. Tanya and I are blessed to be such great friends with our Mom and Larry...they're the best!

A New Crock-Pot

Look what I got for Christmas from Mom and Larry...a brand new, stainless steal, programmable, with a "warm" setting, including a matching Little Dipper and spoon, super fancy CROCK-POT!! I use my Crock-Pot (I now own 5...of different sizes) at least once a week, usually on Wed or Thurs when I don't have to work, it makes our schedule a little less hectic. Thanks Mom and Larry for the great Christmas gift...tonight I'm making White Chicken Chili...it smells so good in my house.

Wordless Wednesday #13 ~ SoCal Winter

Really hard to read thermometer in my backyard...it says 70 degrees!! Middle of January...ugh! I want cold weather!

Happy Birthday Tanya and Bret!

We had dinner here last night for Tanya and Bret's Birthdays.

Happy Birthday Tanya and Bret! Thanks for coming over...and thanks Tanya for helping me do all the dishes! What a great sister.

San Diego Chargers...OUT!

This is Darrell's face during the third quarter of the Charger game... I guess he can pack away the shirts, hats, mugs, banners, and sweatshirts until next season. Sorry honey...you still have me!!

STOMP!

Last night we went to see STOMP! with the Newbry Family. It was awesome, totally amazing...those performers are so talented. Here are some photos for you to enjoy.

Outside the Performing Arts Center.

Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone that I took a photo of the performance. It's a terrible photo, but I wanted to show you...it's hard to explain.

Then, we went to dinner...Mexican food, my favorite! It was HUGE food, with TONS of cheese.

We had a blast...thanks Newbry family! We love you guys!

"Family" Football Night

Darrell with "Uncle Curt-y!" Curtis and his family moved out here many years ago after working with Darrell at J & J. We ended up getting our families together, and we've adopted them as part of our family...I hope they don't mind. Don't they look like they could be brothers?? By the way, Darrell is sitting on a barstool, it looks like Curtis is about a foot taller than him, but it's not quite that extreme.

Tre with Nathan (above)...and Tre with Kyle (below)...watching the football game. Florida Gators vs. Oklahoma Sooners.

Aren't they SO CUTE!!! Love these boys!

Of course a little Guitar Hero at halftime. Even the Daddy's played...on the Easy setting...he he!

So serious, I guess you cannot crack a smile when you play video games...against the law or something!

Isn't this cute?? A Football Crock-Pot. We have so many football watching get-togethers at our house, it was a must have.

Chili dogs for dinner...what else could be better for a football game? So, the Gators won...bummer for our friends Jill and Brent...they're Boomer Sooners!! Maybe next time??

Wordless Wednesday #12 ~ From My Garden

WE HAVE A NEW NEPHEW!!

We are so happy that my half-brother Jarod and his wife Jessie have a new baby boy!! They live in Kentucky, so we don't get to see them very often and we miss them. The baby was born on Tuesday morning, 8 pounds 4 ounces, I think his name is Chase James Boyd. Everyone is doing great...I am hoping that Jarod will send some pictures soon!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO JAROD AND JESSIE!!!

Dinner With Friends

Last night we had the Newbry Family over for dinner. We invited the kids to sit with us, but they chose to sit at their own table...away from the parents...rotten kids!!

I made a yummy chicken pasta dish. Doug was helping himself to another serving.

My delicious cake that is my standard "guests" dessert.

Kelly and I. Aren't we cute?

The kids played Guitar Hero...

Then, we all played a game called "Apples to Apples."

We had a blast...and laughed REALLY hard...especially Kyle!! We love the Newbry family.

Traffic School Humor

Yesterday I spent my day in Traffic School. It was terribly boring and a total waste of time, but I did manage to find some humorous signs. Tell me what you think... WOW!! a $7 attorney. We should hold onto this number. What exactly do you get for 7 bucks?? Do I really wanna know? This sign was across the street from the courthouse.

This does NOT make sense to me. A HUGE and very clear sign prohibiting smoking and a small, but very hard to read sign that says no weapons. This was on the door into the courthouse. Darn, I didn't know you couldn't bring a handgun into the courtroom!! DUH...

This sign was on the door into the courtroom. So...I cannot chew gum, but I can read a newspaper while my trial was going on...perfect!!

There was one more sign that I didn't get a picture of, it said, "Consuming Alcohol While in Traffic School is Against the Law." I am totally not kidding. Would someone really drive up to traffic school with a pitcher of martinis and proceed to take the class? I guess if he didn't have a gun or tank top it would be okay...that's why they had to post a sign...DUH!!!

Christmas Bargains!

I stopped by Target this morning. Check out this gorgeous Advent Calendar! I've always wanted one of these, and had my eye on this one in particular last month (I love Mercury Glass), but it was $40. I didn't want to spend that much, but today I went down the Christmas Clearance aisle and there it was...75% off. My heart started racing as I snatched it up and put it into my cart. I also got some too cute Christmas ornaments and cards for next year. SO glad i stopped by...did you get any great Christmas bargains.

Welcome 2009!!

Happy 2009!!! From our family to yours...may you have a Peaceful New Year!! Don't forget to watch the parade!! We had dinner at home with family.

Cutey Patooties!

The dinner guests!

Molly, asleep under the table during dinner.