Yummy Fruit Pizza

Oh my goodness, I LOVE this dessert!!! I've never been much of a dessert person until I got pregnant with Kai. I thought it was just a craving that would go away once he was born, but it didn't. And, I can't say I'm to sad about that either. I mean, yes it would be nice to once again not like anything sweet. But I am so glad I do because I was REALLY missing out before :).

I've made this fruit pizza twice, most recently for my friend Kim's birthday. She liked it, and I liked it, and all the other girls liked it... so I thought I'd share it with you.

This recipe is from the Simple & Delicious Magazine May/June 2008

1 tube refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1 cup sugar divided

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 cup orange juice

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 package (8oz) cream cheese softened

1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

fruit of your choice- I like strawberries, bananas, peaches, blueberries

*Let dough stand at room temp for 10 min. Press onto ungreased 14in pizza pan. Bake at 350 for 15 min or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

*In a small saucepan combine 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch and juices. Bring to boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat: set aside to cool.

*In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, milk, orange peel and remaining sugar until blended. In a small mixing bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form; fold into cream cheese mixture. Spread over crust. Arrange fruit over filling; spread reserved glaze. Refrigerate until chilled.

Our Sticker Chart

Lately we have been trying hard to positively reinforce good behavior through a sticker-chart-reward-system type thing. And it has been working wonderfully. Awhile back we really needed to work on Jackson going "poopoo" in the potty. He has been potty trained for quite awhile but for whatever reason he had saved the poop for the pull-up. So, when we decided no more pull-ups during nap and night time we needed some way to motivate him to use the potty. Well, the kid loves Jamba Juice, and he loves stickers. We decided that for every poop in the potty he would earn one sticker. After earning 10 stickers we would take a trip to Jamba Juice. The first few trips to the potty for number two went well. Jackson earned a sticker and we were both happy. But, Jack is a quick learner and suddenly realized that he could easily poop a turd, earn a sticker and then immediately get back on the potty and poop another turd for another sticker! We didn't want to discourage him but going to Jamba Juice every other day wasn't quite in our budget. So, we decided to bump the sticker total to 15.... that bought us a few more days between Jamba visits. However, since he was so motivated to poop in the potty for stickers and Jamba we thought we'd see what else he do for them!

Jackson and I made a simple chart with card stock and scrapbook stickers. The board hangs at the end of our hallway right next to his room and the bathroom so we never forget to add a sticker. Once the chart gets full and the reward given we'll just make another one. We chose scrapbook stickers he could identify with and labeled them:

Sweet Boy: given when caught doing something nice for his brother or friends, answering "yes mommy/daddy when asked to do something, being polite

Dress up: given when he gets dressed all by himself

Pick up Toys: given when he picks up his toys either when asked just once or without being asked

Poop in Potty: enough said (but for awhile 2 stickers were given if he got out of bed during nap or night and pooped in his little potty in his room, he would always be so excited when he woke up to show us

Make Bed: given when pillows, blankets and stuffed animals are straightened

These are all things Jackson either needed to work on or was ready to learn to do on his own. He has LOVED earning stickers and even tries to make up his own categories. At dinner he will say, "if I eat all of this can I have an I ate everything sticker?" He picks out each sticker, which can take awhile but I know he takes pride in each of them. Also on the chart we hung his recent certificate and pictures from swim lessons.

Today he enjoyed a trip to Jamba Juice for 25 Poop in Potty stickers. Way to go Jackson!

Session Nine Photography

I LOVE Session Nine Photography! They have photographed some very special moments for my family over the past year and I cannot wait till we have our next session. We have pictures taken by Session Nine framed all over the house. Jason and Jessica are friends of ours and are so talented. They have photographed many of my friends families and events as well. Right now they have a summer special going... $100 gets you a Lifestyle Session if you book and complete your shoot on or before September 30th. This is an AMAZING deal. The shoots are SO SO MUCH FUN, the pictures are great, AND they give you a CD with your images to print wherever you want! (I like to use MPIX) I know there aren't many openings left so if you are interested book them soon!

Here are some of my favorite pictures they've taken for us...

Time for Something New

Well, It's been awhile. Awhile since I've posted anything. And I've come to the conclusion that I think I want to start blogging. I think. It has been something that I think about every once and awhile, when I want to share a cute picture, fun idea, craft project, recipe... ANYTHING. Or, when I want to just write, talk, vent, think, share... but I have never really gotten around to doing it. Part of the reason why is because so many of my friends have these wonderfully creative blogs that they do a pretty good job of updating regularly. I'm afraid that if I start blogging I wont be able to keep up with it, but now I'm to the point that I don't care. So, I might blog every day one week, and just one time the next. Who cares? I don't! ;) With that being said, right now, I'm going to start blogging! (Actually, our computer is broken (and has been for about 6 months) so I will be using Chris' as often as he brings it home from the office!)

What to write about first...

Jackson is in swim lessons right now. He is going to be 3 in November and for the most part has always enjoyed being in the water. But, after seeing his friend Baylor swimming like a pro he decided he wanted to "jump in and swim like Baylor". Luckily his buddy Hudson had just taken swim lessons and learned a ton so we knew exactly where to sign him up at. Mrs. Parker's house. He calls her Mrs. Mrs. Parker. We aren't quite sure why. He LOVES his swim lessons. Every day he practices floating on his back, diving for rings, scooping the ice cream with his hands and kicking his feet so hard he splashes everyone. His FAVORITE is jumping off the diving board. He talks about it all the time and requests to do it while there. My FAVORITE is watching him get thrown into the pool, turning around, and climbing out all by himself. I am so excited for him and proud of him. I just can't believe how big he is getting!

Here is a video of him getting tossed in and jumping off the diving board.

Aprons on Sale for the Holidays!

It's that time of year again! Time to start thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas before it's over! An apron is a wonderful Thanksgiving gift for your hostess and also a great Christmas present for anyone who is EVER in the kitchen.

Holiday Prices:

Full length apron: $40

Half apron: $30

Kitchen towels: $15 (set of two)

Be sure to get your order in soon! Email Sewlexi@gmail.com

Puppies for Sale

Olde English Bulldogge Puppies for Sale! 9 weeks old. Super cute. First Shots. IOEBA Reg. Parents on Site. 2 male, 2 female.  Did I mention they are SUPER CUTE?  $1200 + Email me if you or someone you know might be interested!

Celebrating You - A Night For Pampering

Tonight at Superstition Springs Community Church, the women's bible study is hosting the ladies of SSCC and the women of House of Refuge East.  Starting at 6:00 will be a wonderful night of fellowship, dinner, raffles, testimony, praise and worship, and pampering.  Below is an apron I've made for the raffle.  Hope to see you there!

For more information about SSCC visit www.mission68.org