ice skating

We took the kids ice skating on a pond close to our house last Sunday. The triplets had never been on skates before but Shelby has taken lessons in the past.

The little ones complained like crazy for the first little bit. It's well... very slippery out there and difficult to stand up! :) After about 30 minutes or so, they were able to cruise around without falling every couple of feet. Better to learn at their age than ours! They are MUCH closer to the ground.

They had a great time and begged us to take them "every day" until the lakes thaw. We'll see about that one but we may try to get out there once a week or so. Now, Dan and I are looking for skates for ourselves. Stop by, we'll sure try to find a pair of skates in your size!

I love to cook

There's something about being in the kitchen that is soothing to me. Pots a bubblin', wonderful smells in the air, kids underfoot. I usually have some music playing on the computer. It's really one of my favorite places to be.

I tried this easy recipe the other night and I thought it was yummo!

Byerly's Wild Rice Soup
SERVES 4
Ingredients
6 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon minced onion
1/2 cup flour
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups wild rice, cooked
1/3 cup cooked chicken, diced
1/2 cup carrot, finely shredded
3 tablespoons slivered almonds (chopped)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup half-and-half
2 tablespoons dry sherry - (it is still good if you don't have this ingredient)
snipped parsley or chives (for garnish) - (great for presentation but 5 year olds really don't care!)
Directions
Melt the butter in a soup pot.
Saute the onion until it is softened.
Blend in the flour and then gradually stir in the chicken broth. Stir constantly until it comes to a boil, keep stirring for one more minute.
Add wild rice, chicken, carrots, almonds, salt and simmer about 5 minutes.
Add half-and-half and sherry, heat until just heated through.
Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or chives.

I'm all about soups and stews on the stove or in the crockpot when it's cold outside. I think it makes a great main course but Dan looks at it more like an appetizer. :) Hope you give it a try.

snow fun...

We've had a fun weekend playing in the snow on a snowmobile that Dan borrowed for the weekend so he could take a ride Saturday with about 15 men from our church.

He left yesterday about 10 am and returned about 3:30 after riding about 75 miles on the snowmobile. He said it was a blast!

Last night he took me on a ride and we went out onto several of the lakes around here. It's so incredible to haul butt across the lake, we had to slow down as three deer loped across in front of us. There is a posted trail across the lake with a sign post showing direction and how many miles to all the closest towns. It's so funny to see it right in the middle of the lake.

love looking at people's houses, many of which were lit up as it was dusk. I love it when they leave their curtains open and I can see inside! :) Most people up here have spectacular lake sides to their homes.

Anyway, we pulled the kids around on the sled and they fell off a gazillion times but isn't that the fun of it all?

Today, after church, Dan took a long ride with Shelby and our friend Mike and then he came back and took each of the little ones out except Macy. She had no interest at all after she fell off the sled face first into the snow yesterday.

It has been a fun weekend. We really want our own sled as soon as we can. It's a great way to get out and enjoy winter!

We're hoping for more snow soon. It's gonna be cold...it might as well snow....LOTS! :)

Hope you are toasty and warm!