newest obsession: Pioneer woman cookbook!!

my mom got me her cookbook for christmas and i'm hooked! i am sooooo tempted to repeat "Julie and Julia" with this lady....ryan is very encouraging!
he had one look at the book and was like, wow....yum....go for it hunny! haha!
this lady is hilarious! and guilt-free! soon i will be!

so i have already made 2 of her recipes....jalapeno poppers (wrapped in bacon--!) and spicy pulled pork - (which we had tonight!- wow!) i made them on separate occasions, and I'm all the more eager to try all her potato recipes.
this pregnancy is loving potatoes.
(catch that?--yep, I'm pregnant with #5!! due in early Aug!)

so....here's to happy weight gain and yummy potato feasting!!

This morning we did a family portrait shoot....went pretty well i say!! the kids loved it, especially when we gave them all cookies at the end. aren't they cute?
Brighten looks sooooooo big!
wow. well hopefully you all are enjoying the season!
blessings!

5 things i love, Friday!

1. i love to cook: my latest was cranberry almond biscotti! it's awesome, and great gift for the neighbors and makes good package presents in the mail!!!

2. loving the peppermint candy!

3. i love to grow plants: my lavender has finally sprouted and i'm so excited!! it smells amazing!

4. the dollar store--great gag gifts to make people smile in the holidays! haha! you know what you are getting from me!! :)

5. the reason for the season: Jesus! i do love Him.

happy holidays friends!
happy hanukkah today too!

merry christmas!! today we are frosting our cut-out cookies. the other day we were cutting out big snowflakes that are now hanging from the ceiling! we are getting festive around here!! my wonderful hubby just made me an awesome peppermint cappucino! he's the best!!
i feel so much better--last night i got hit with a huge migraine....i haven't had one of those in such a looooooong time!! it was horrible....i get those visual squiggly lines in my vision before they hit....i actually had three of them....then threw up several times....sorry for the details...but it was BAD!

so i hope you all are doing soooo much better than i was!! i am very thankful this day for my health and for those around me.....blessings to you all!!