Easy Granola...

Joe's favorite breakfast ceareal is Granola and of course it is so high priced and I just will not buy it all that often because he can only get two bowls worth out of a bag that cost over $4. So last week I decided to start looking online for granola recipes. Last Tuesday I made Peanut Butter Granola (my fav) and a normal honey granola with cinnamon (Joe's fav). It is really easy and probley an 1/8 of the price to make. I made granola bars with the peanut butter granola and added chocolate chips (pretty tasty)!! We have also made bananas dipped in yogurt, rolled in peanut butter granola then froze (taste like a banana split). This morning I made 2 more batches of the cinnamon granola...we like to eat it with milk poured over, in our yogurt, or just grab a handful and eat! It is SO YUMMY and now probably a must have around our house.

Easy Granola

2 cups rolled oats

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon milled flax seed

-in bowl toss oats, cinnamon, flax seed, and salt

3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

-Preheat oven 325. In bowl stir oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. Pour over oats, use your hands to coat and mix. Spread oat mixture on a baking sheet (I use my stoneware) spread it out evenly but leave a few clumps

here and there for texture.

Bake for 10 minutes flip granola

Bake for 10 minutes flip granola

You can add anything you would like into the granola, we have added things like chopped almonds, dried cherries, or chopped bittersweet chocolate. Whatever sounds good to you!!!

Our sweet Valentine's...

if only this is how they were torwads each other every morning :)
For Valentine's Day Joe and I worked on a special valentine for the boys. I cut out a bunch of paper hearts and we split them up for the two boys then Joe wrote love notes on half and I on the other half for each Riley and Chandler. I sewed them to a piece of ribbon and Joe hung it over the boys bedroom door. We made a trail of "KISSES" from the door into the livingroom and made a huge heart of kisses and put there Valentines gift in the middle. (the kisses thing I have done every year) Then we had heart shape choc chip pancakes for breakfast. Though it was Grandpa Gascho's funeral and a hard day I am so thankful we took the time to make this Valentines Day a fun and speical one for the boys. They are the true love of our lifes and I thank Heavenly Father everyday for alowing me to be their mother. It was a DAY OF LOVE!!

His sweet word...

The Next American Idol...

from lazy summer days in Nebraska....


to Hollywood!!

John Shulz is a close friend of our families, he served his mission in Nebraska and while in the Kearney Stake he became very close to our family. I can honestly say John is like another child to my parents and if I was not mistaken probley checks in with mom and dad more than I do :)

Him going to American Idol has been such a hush, hush thing and we have not been able to speak a word of it for months. Then we were not allowed to put anything on Facebook...AAHHH it was killing me! I wanted everyone to know so that we could get the word out and so people will watch and VOTE!! John is an AMAZING singer and a very talented musician! I cannot wait to see what will come of Idol.

We got to spend some time with John this summer, he was able to come to Joe and Chandler's Birthday Party (Pirate Birthday I might add), then he came back for the weekend of Ben and Lisa's wedding, that is when he was able to teach Joe a few cords on the Bango...OH JOHN PLEASE, THIS GIRL CAN ONLY LISTEN TO THAT SAME TUNE SO MANY TIMES.

We are so excited for our dear friend and he really does have a God given talent, we cannot wait to see where it takes him!!!

Catching Up...

So here I am again catching up...we have had alot going on at the Book's home but you know us we always take time for a little play! Last weekend we let the boys take a friend to Kearney to the Big Apple Fun Center and to the movie Gulliver's Travel. Riley brought his friend Alex and Chandler brought Conner. They all had a wonderful time playing in the Ballocity, had Pizza and then headed to the movie. We had a great time!!

On Sunday Riley had his Pinewood Derby for Cub Scouts.

This year Ry decided he was going for speed...not something the Book's knows

much about ;) The past he has been all about the design and COOL but not

this year Riley wanted to go for the GOLD!!

and he did it!!! He won 1st Place in his den.

Riley and Trevor Linn

Ready, Set, GO!

1st Place Winners

Tristan Green (Tigers) Jovi Cervantes (Webelos)

Riley Books (Bears) & Jake Lindstedt (Overall)

GREAT JOB BOYS!!

Exhausted...

This is how I feel today...it has been a long week going 100 mph

and 100 different directions at once. But I would not want it any

other way, I love being a mommy and all the "extras" that

comes with the calling.

A nap would really be great too!

All work, no play...

Gran and I got together to quilt while Grandpa, Joe and boys went goose hunting. I got to use the Singer Featherweight sewing machine, I truly LOVE to sew with this machine and makes me think about the days when women quilted for the need of her family not just for the hobby.
I love to quilt and right now I am working on a special project for my sweet hubby, it is good to know it will be a much used and loved quilt, just as those made back when quilting was all work and no play.