Chocolate covered strawberry's

Its New Year Eve and here at the Miller household we made plans to not have ANY plans at all. This morning we decided to do a little laundry, clean around the house, and spend some extra quality time with Brody. It's so nice not having any plans.

I was looking though a couple of cookbooks and came across this recipe. I decided to give it a whirl!

Prep:20 min

Inactive: 30 min

Yield: 1 pound chocolate covered strawberries 

Level: Intermediate

Ingredients

• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 3 ounces white chocolate, chopped
• 1 pound strawberries with stems (about 20), washed and dried very well

Directions

Put the semisweet and white chocolates into 2 separate heatproof medium bowls. Fill 2 medium saucepans with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat; set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. Stir until smooth. (Alternatively, melt the chocolates in a microwave at half power, for 1 minute, stir and then heat for another minute or until melted.)

Once the chocolates are melted and smooth, remove from the heat. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the fruit into the dark chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Set strawberries on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries. Dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries.
Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.

My little helper and my taste tester!

We also have a pot roast with potatoes and carrots for dinner tonight!

*HAPPY NEW YEAR*

New camera

I Can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to have a new camera.. I have been surviving off of my ipod touch to capture photos. In June I lost my old one to a can of Diet Coke in target. It went a little something like this.

Ted and I were standing at the check out line when I noticed "Brown water" Hitting my head and feet.

Me: "Excuse me Sir, the ceiling is leaking something"
Cashier: (looks up and ironically there is a brown stain right above us.) "I'm very sorry I will have someone look into that as soon as possible!"
Me: "Where the heck is it coming from?"
Ted: " Oh my gosh Andrea you are covered."
Me: "This is disgusting!"
Cashier: " Again I am very sorry and someone is on their way to check it out right now."

As ted and I walked towards the doors I continued to get soaked in icky brown water. I looked down and noticed it coming from from my purse... Yup, sure enough a can of Diet coke EXPLODED in my purse and guess what was laying in the bottom of that evil carbonated soda? My poor camera! Needless to say at this point I was so embarrassed I just walked out. I wonder if they ever found where the leak was coming from?

Here is a picture of my new PINK camera! Thank you Jack and Betty now my husband can't give me crap about not having a camera anymore!

Shopping with Brody.

Before I had kids I could care less if I had to run errands, but now when I have to run to grab a few things it's literally like preparing for a camping trip. Do we have the diaper bag, the sippy cup, the dinosaur that likes to ride in the cart with Brody and his favorite blanket? Seriously did I just get into the car without shoes on? Wow, it sure is alot of work!

 We have had the "major blowout" at target where I was so close to throwing away the outfit he had on. (needless to say we just changed the Diaper and went home.) Brody, also loves to ride in those huge carts with the car connected to them. Have you ever had to steer one of those? I am thinking about starting a Drivers Ed class to teach parents how to control there obnoxious 'Car Carts' I find they are also really loud you may want to bring ear plugs. He also likes to place all the items on the belt at the check out line. It's so great he wants to help me but I know the cashier is probably thinking "Come on kid my grandma moves faster then you." I am thankful that neither of the kids have ever had huge temper trantrums in the store, but we have had our moments.

Shopping with him can be fun too. Recently we were in the christmas section and there was a huge Hershey Bar it weighed a whopping 5 pounds and would cost you $35 dollars to bring that bad boy home! We deffiantly were not going to buy it but we did snap a picture with it!

At the end of our shopping adventures I sometimes feel like I just completed a marathon, but I sure do love the company, the laughs, and the unforgetable moments!



Redneck at heart!

Yes, we live in Bloomington Minnesota but who said we can't have a little redneck fun?

Yesterday, Ted decided to hook the kids sled up to the John Deere.

Check out the Results!

 Good ol' Minnesota snowboarding

 "Kids, it's time to go to the grocery store get in the vehicle!"

 Check out my sweatshirt... Coincidence? I think not!

Please don't judge us!

Sisterly Love

  Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.

-Anthony Brandt

Growing up I never realized how good I had it having Four other siblings.  I had to share my toys and the attention wasn't always on me. Today, I realize how lucky I am. I have four best friends and each of them I love the same but for different reasons.

Today, my older sister Sarah attended church with my family. It was so great to have her sitting beside me. I feel Blessed to have her in my life and I'm so thankful that she took the time to spend the afternoon with us. I have looked up to her throughout the years for many reasons, she is very patient, a good listener, has a huge heart, super funny and since I can remember she has always been really talented.

With that being said I wanted to share some of her talent that I appreciate and admire.

Thank you Sarah!

How to avoid getting sick?

Last night Devin had two Friends over, and at about 9:30 the basement door flies open and his friend shouts "Devin is throwing up!" Immediately my heart sinks and I'm thinking I can't miss anymore work. (Sad I know) So, I go and check on him and sure enough he is throwing up. I get him all cleaned up and tucked into bed while his friends are frantically running around the basement. Thankfully their mother arrived 10 minutes later.  

Ted and I talked for about 20 minutes saying things like "I hope its just a 24 hour thing." Or " I can't take anytime of off work." and "I hope no one else gets it." I'm sure every parent can relate to this situation.

So here is my question: How can I avoid my kids getting sick this winter?

*Quit my job at the Child Center?

*Home school Devin?

*Have my whole family wear a mask whenever we are out?

*Become a hermit?

 The answer is: you can't avoid it.

.Instead, I will just repeatedly ask my children to wash their hands, keep their fingers from their nose, and eat their veggies. When they do get sick (and it will happen) I am going to spoil them with TLC the way my parents used to do to me. I am going to try not to stress about all my other priorities, as it will work itself out somehow. The only thing important is we get them healthy again so we can get back to our chaotic lives!

Thankfully Devin is feeling 100% better today!

New beginnings.

So, I've decided to start a new blog. I fell behind in my old one while raising a 9 year old, 2 year old, working, and volunteering in various activities. Ive become more inspired by reading other peoples blogs. Every time I'm reading them I'm thinking " I have a lot of things that I could write about." So why not give it a try.

Hope you all enjoy!