I'm Venting... sort of

Hey, it's Jessica. Today is a snow day so I'm out of school, and this post was going to come out sooner or later.
I just want to say that looking at all the adorable families my cousins, aunts, etc. have makes me want my own family SO badly!!! I'm probably being selfish and spending too much time fussing over this, but I am really not liking being patient at the moment.
Maybe I'm just feeling like this because there will be five new baby cousins in my extended family this year, and also probably because my cousin and best friend on my mom's side, Brittany, is getting married in April. Oh don't get me wrong, I'm totally thrilled for Brittany, and all of you who are in the throws of motherhood.
I just really want to be older, married, having babies... the ultimate goal I suppose. I guess I'm just really being selfish right now more than anything. So, I apologize.
Is this normal though? Did any of you feel impatient to grow up when you were a teenager? Am I being crazy??? I just get this incredibly intense desire to have a baby of my own whenever I see pictures of you mommies holding your infants. Do I need advice? Should I even share this with all of you?
I know that I need to enjoy being a teenager and being in High School. It's not that I don't enjoy this time of my life. I just don't care about the normal things most girls my age get so caught up in. I could care less if I don't have a super-expensive designer purse, or if I don't get a date to a dance. I don't like flipping through fashion magazines that tell me what I need to be happy. I know that happiness comes from doing what Heavenly Father wants me to do, and He definitely wants me to be sealed in the temple someday and to have children. I'm just really not loving the whole waiting/growing process before that day.
Sorry, I'm sure none of you have the time to read all this. But if you have any words of wisdom, I'm all ears!!! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!!

Matthew turned 10 on January 12th. He is such a good kid that I thought I would create a post just for him. He is having a birthday party with friends this Friday, so we really didn't do much on his birthday. We did give him lots of hugs and spanks. Actually, we took everyone to Krispy Kreme! Did you all know that they give a free donut for every "A" on your report card? Well, my kids do not let me forget this. So between, Matthew and Benjamin, we got a dozen free donuts. It was fun letting those warm, glazed donuts melt in our mouths!

This Friday we are taking Matthew and 5 friends to see a hockey game. It just so happens that on Friday night the theme for the game is "Star Wars Night!" Matthew loves anything Star Wars. The Star Wars Legion (crazed fans dressed in costumes) are going to come and interact with the crowd and put on a light saber show. The boys are so excited. I'm even excited. I'll take some pictures and post them.

We love Matthew and remember the day he arrived. He weighed 9 lbs. My biggest baby! It was a great event because he was our first boy. I remember that my epidural wore off toward the end of his delivery. He's the only baby that I really "felt" myself give birth to. WOW! I thought I was going to die. Brock looked at me and said, "you're really going to have to do this." I could have punched him. We are so blessed to have Matthew sent to us. He is a hard worker, a loyal friend, and fun to play games with. Happy 10th birthday bud!

Merry Christmas!

We had a great time going to downtown Knoxville. There was live music, free hot chocolate, and cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus. Matthew is glowing because he is just so happy!

This is not a real Santa. He's just a dummy placed in front of the tree lot. HO! HO! HO!

Jessica gets a peacoat! This is something she has wanted for quite awhile. Ben plays his toy guitar, and Lauren models her scarf and hat.

What would Christmas Eve be without new pajamas! Brock gave me some beautiful black satin pj's. There was only one major problem. The size was XXL! Oops! It wasn't really his fault. The outside tag and hanger had a big M. I will just go exchange them with the huge crowd at Target!

Here are some cute shots of the kids. Where is Lauren? Well...she got sick at our family photo shoot. Seriously, she was just holding on while we took our family pictures. She lost her lunch on the other side of the fence. There was no way I was going to make her take an individual picture after that!

We attempted to take some family pictures. They didn't quite turn out the way we had hoped. However, I had Jessica take a shot of me and Brock. Matthew and Benjamin were so photogenic. These are rare moments!

Life is Busy

I have wanted to post so many times! I just don't have much time for sitting at the computer these days. I don't know how working moms do it. I am always behind. I have had to turn a blind eye to many of the things that matter to me, and go to work. One of the worst parts of working is that I seem to always come home tired and grumpy. I just want to have some silence and stay home. That's not too much to ask of four children and a husband is it? I really shouldn't complain. I am very blessed to be able to work. I prayed that I would have work every day and this past week, I did.

I worked at Microbac Laboratories, my real and consistent job, on Monday and Wednesday. Then on the other three days I was at Bluegrass Elementary substitute teaching. I have found that the more I say "yes" to the schools requests, the more they call me. I really found my place on Friday. I subbed for the music teacher. It was so fun! I had seven 5th grade classes. I worked on two Christmas songs, or I should say "Holiday" songs with them. I sang my heart out and was really hoarse by the end of the day. There was only one group of boys that I had to get very stern with. I hate having to do that. I like to be the fun and well liked substitute teacher. I have another sub job on this Tuesday. Who knows, the phone could ring at 6 a.m. for help on Thursday and Friday too. That's the tough part. I look so forward to having a day to clean my house and do laundry, then the phone call comes. I am grateful, but also tired and frustrated.

I sang with a group of talented musicians at our ward Christmas Party Friday night. It was so much fun. I sang Mary Did You Know, Mary's Lullaby, Tennessee Christmas, and Winter Wonderland. We will be performing again at my work Christmas Party. I get all stressed out and nervous, but in the end I am always so glad that I contributed. Brock and I went to Jessica's high school Christmas concert this past week too. It was so nice! Jess can't wait to audition for the elite group next year. Oh how I miss my ole' high school choir! Those were the days. I would love to someday sing in a really great choir again.

I know that I am blabbing on and on....I just wanted to let those of you who actually look at my blog know why I haven't been posting very much lately. I am running around like a chicken with it's head cut off! I'm sure that some of you can relate.

The Dance

Jessica went to a dance recently. I thought she looked so cute. I snapped some pictures of her and some of the other kids who were there. I just about had to twist her arm to let me take these pictures. If it were up to Jessica, there would not be any pictures taken of her, ever. She will thank me one day.

Whole Wheat/White Bread Recipe

I want to share my favorite bread recipe. My family enjoys fresh baked bread more than just about anything. This recipe is so simple, yet so soft and chewy.
This one loaf bread recipe can be made with whole wheat flour, a mix of the two flours, or just make white bread with all white flour. I use unbleached white and wheat flour. I use my bread maker on the dough cycle to mix this, then shape my own loaf. You can use your kitchen aid too. I turns out great every time. Try it and let me know what you think.

Whole Wheat/White Bread

3 1/2 cups white flour or (2 cups ww flour and 1 1/2 cup white)

1 T oil (vegetable or olive oil)

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 T yeast

1/4 cup honey

Mix water and yeast in small bowl and set aside. Add flour, salt, oil and honey to bread maker. When yeast mixture has foamed up, add to bread maker. Select dough cycle on the bread maker. Sometimes it is necessary to add a little more flour. Check the dough when you hear the bread maker start to mix. If the dough seems way to sticky, add a little more flour. When the cycle is complete, shape the dough into a loaf and place in a greased bread pan. Let it rise for about 20 minutes. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Chicken Casserole (delicious!)

My sister-in-law, Ashley, has informed me that blog etiquette requires a recipe for any pictures of yummy food. I do want to follow the rules, so here is the recipe for the yummy chicken casserole pictured in the previous post. I just have a couple of things to say about it. You don't have to use Mrs. Cubbisons Dressing, but it is the best. Do not use stove top stuffing. I actually used the Kellogs cubed brand and it worked out just great. If you want more of the "crunch" on top, use more of the dressing. For the chicken: I bought a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store on sale for $4.88. It was so great. I just stripped off all of the meat and used it in this casserole. Quick and easy. Of course, you can cook your own chicken and be just fine.

Some of you also wanted the wheat bread recipe. I posted it today too. It is my favorite bread recipe. It just makes one loaf and is super easy to make. Let me know when any of you make these recipes! I'd like to know how it goes.

Chicken Casserole:

1 cup butter
4 cups Mrs. Cubbinsons dressing (cornbread or cubed)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can evaporated milk
3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1 1/2 cup frozen peas
2 T minced onion
1/2 cup chopped celery

Melt butter in a medium saucepan and add dressing. Stir, letting the dressing absorb all of the butter. Spray the bottom of a 9x13 pan, and spoon in 1/2 of dressing mixture. In a bowl, combine soup, evaporated milk, peas, onion, celery, and chicken. Pour this mixture over the dressing. Top with remaining dressing mixture. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Enjoy!