Winter.

I'm sick with a cold. Everyone else seems to be feeling better except for me. It's a good thing I'm sick right in the middle of winter because I really don't think I'm missing that much excitement outside...who wants to go outside when it's 27 degrees? Really. Winter is here and it's here to stay. Last year we had 60 degree weather the day after Christmas and we didn't get any snow until the end of January...but enough complaining. Let's talk about food. Because that's what we do when we are trapped inside a house most of the day. We cook and then we eat.

I made this to-die-for cauliflower soup yesterday. The Pioneer Woman had it on her website (and if you don't know about the Pioneer Woman then you are missing out!) You MUST check out her website www.thepioneerwoman.com This is one website I enjoy checking often. She has photography tips and tutorials, hilarious posts, recipes with pictures! Yes, she has pictures for every single step of her recipes...I especially LOVE her recipes because she cooks with fresh ingredients...Check her out, you will not regret it!

{Photo courtesy of The Pioneer Woman website}

Back to the Cauliflower Soup. It was to DIE for! Every time I go to the grocery store and see cauliflowers, I always wish I had a good cauliflower recipe. I finally found this soup...and what is winter without soup? Try it. It's easy and delicious...I got some sourdough fresh bread from Safeway Bakery, sliced it and toasted it and my oh my! It was amazing!...You can find the recipe HERE.

I walked by grasshopper cookies the other day while at the store and I couldn't resist and got some! I don't know how many of you know this really cool trick (I was introduced to it in college)...warm up some milk in a bowl, bite a little bit of cookie at the top and bottom and then suck the milk through the cookie for a few seconds and then pop the cookie in your mouth...well...I tried it again last night (it had been years) and MAN!!!! It was heaven in my mouth...like the little rat from ratatouille who imagines fireworks in his mouth when he's eating...that was me last night. That cookie just melted in my mouth, it was a heavenly experience.

So I guess, one can find joy and happiness in the middle of winter...food...that is the answer...and if you think it'll ruin your new year's resolution to lose weight...I'll tell you a secret...PORTION CONTROL. You can eat anything you want but in small quantities. Count your calories. It works. So, instead of eating 10 of those grasshopper cookies, have 4 (150 calories) it's a great after- dinner dessert.

...and last but not least...my kids...they have been saying THE funniest things lately...the things they've been saying are so funny, I've been writing them down so I won't forget them. Here's a conversation I had with Brielle a little while ago: (Braden also had some input)

Denisse: Who is Heavenly Father?

Brielle: He has a white beard, white eyes, an old face and white teeth.

Braden: He has white shoes.

Denisse: What does He do?

Brielle: He helps people wrap the presents.

Denisse:Who is Jesus?

Brielle: He came down from the sky and has a brown beard.

{This photo is at the National Building Museum a few weeks ago}

On another occasion we were having some ice cream for dessert after dinner (as bribery for Braden to finish his dinner) after putting the bowl of ice cream in front of Braden, this is what he said:

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, that's a lot of ice cream!"

{This photo is so blurry but I think it depicts how much Braden LOVES his new Buzz-Lightyear. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Jensen for the Buzz...it has become Braden's favorite toy}

Brielle was having a conversation with her tío Kem.

Kem asked her, "What do you call people from Perú?

Brielle answered, "Hey! Come over here!"

{so much love, they fight but do love each other}

Lastly, Brielle and Braden were fighting about something Braden had broken. This was the conversation we had about the occurrence:

Brielle: Look mom! Braden broke it!

Denisse: Oh no!

Brielle: Braden, you're mean!

Braden: I no mean Brielle, I'm not bugging anybody!

Oh! one more! Brielle has inherited my very sensitive sense of smell...one day my brother was eating something that had a really strong smell...she didn't like it so she put stickers on her nose so she wouldn't have to smell it...silly...

...and besides food, I find joy and happiness in these two children...

{Happy Winter!}