What's For Dinner? Easy Chicken Soup

2 more days until spring!

So what's with the sniffles and the coughing?!!!

It never fails.

Just when we think winter is on the way out and

beautiful weather is on the way in....

it snows and then we all catch a cold.

Such is life in the Rocky Mountains.

So for dinner it's Easy Chicken Soup to the rescue!

It's mild for tender tummys. It's hot, comforting food.

It's good for what ails ya.

And it's easy.

Who likes to cook when they don't feel good?

I don't.

That is how this recipe was born.

And it makes a ton so you don't have to worry

about what to make for lunch the next day.

So throw it in the pot and snuggle up in your warm blanky.

Dinner is done.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Alexis really kicks up her heels for St. Patrick's!

Grandma Weiler made her this leprechaun costume for Halloween one year. Alexis wore it to school once
on St. Patrick's Day to be funny and clicked her heels as she went down the hall.

We have some funny traditions for St. Patrick's. We're not Irish but we have alot of fun with it! Our traditions include the littlest making an elaborate leprechaun trap to capture the wee fellow so we can find out where he has hid his gold. Did you know leprechauns like peanut butter? I didn't :)

This year, Jonny has constructed some lethal contraption with a mouse trap that will beat the tar of the poor leprechaun. Somehow, every year the little blighter gets away. He pranks at great lengths, turning the milk green and causing general havoc throughout the house.

Luckily, the leprechaun spills his gold everywhere and in the strangest places. It used to be chocolate gold coins, but the little laddy has upgraded to real gold coins. It is shameless bribery I know, but the older kids are already asking, when is St. Patrick's?

The Fort

Do you remember building forts as a kid?

I do.

My brother Rob and I would build fantastic forts.

They were our secret hideouts.
A place to dream and imagine.

I would read books for hours.

We would sleep in it at night.

I thought we were THE master fort builders.

Until now...

Hannah

(with a little help from mechanical engineering major Jonny)

built this fort while we were out to dinner tonight.

I didn't even know we had this many blankets.

Theirs kicks on any design I ever had as a kid.

This fort includes a big screen tv and refrigerator.

They even used the treadmill
as a working drawbridge at the entrance
to fend off encroachers.

Maybe we will have Family Home Evening

in the fort Monday night.

We can begin with...

"And my father dwelt in a tent." 

What were your favorite childhood projects?

Iron Chef Hardy Home

2 Chefs. 2 Dishes. 1 Victor.

Ok. Maybe we watch too much Food Network.

You'd think my family was obsessed.

Hannah claimed she made the best
Peanut Butter Sandwich
& Banana Dessert

Jonny said he could do better.

It was a Hardy Throw Down.

Hannah won big on presentation with her clever

PB & Banana heart shaped sandwich.

Jonny won big on taste with his

PB & Fresh Strawberry Sandwich

grilled to perfection.

But Hannah came back huge with her signature dessert:

Hannah Banana Surprise!

(the surprise is buried marachino cherries...YUM!)

Jonny hand dipped his banana in melted chocolate

and barely made the clock...3...2...1...!

In the end, Chef Hannah prevailed!

What's For Dinner? Sweet Sweet Chili & Sweet Corn Bread

What's for Dinner?

I get this alot.

More times than I can count.

They may not want to talk about their day,

what happened at school or at work.

But they're always ready to talk about dinner.

When the answer is:

Sweet Sweet Chili and Sweet Corn Bread

Their reply: Sweet

This is a very mild and sweet chili.

It can be spiced up with onion, garlic and

maybe some oregano, if desired.

My kids like it just the way it is.

I like to make the Sweet Corn Bread in

Heart Shaped Muffin Tins.

There is a funny story behind these.

The first time I made them a couple years ago,

I was so excited with how they turned out.

I turned to my son, Jonny, and held them up

and said, "Look what I made!"

The muffins went flying 

off my platter and behind the stove.

Jonny laughed.

I cried.

But now we all laugh.

Because, even though I tried my best

to retrieve all the muffins,

I know there is at least 1 petrified muffin

behind the oven that somebody will find oneday.

And they will know that someone in this household

baked with love ♥.  

NIGHT LIFE OF HANNAH: Part 3

Hannah was supposed to be asleep.

She decided to make this Music Video instead.

I think she is hoping to beat out Beyoncé

for next year's Grammy

for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance :)

"HAPPY"

NIGHT LIFE OF HANNAH: Part 2

Hannah was supposed to

have cleaned her room this day.

Daddy was supposed to

be working on his computer in his office.

(He likes to play games on his new

fancy smancy Droid phone)

Hmmm....

I should label this video "Busted!"

NIGHT LIFE OF HANNAH: Part 1

Ever wonder what 8 year olds do at night

when they're supposed to be in bed?

Well, mine makes unauthorized videos.

I didn't even know Hannah had a video feature

on the camera we gave her for Christmas.

I guess she knew.

And like her mama, she is into Videography.

There's more to come...

♥ Be My Valentine ♥

Happy Valentine's Day to you from our Family!

We are so grateful to have you in our lives.

We love you!

As Hannah would say...

Eskimo Kisses & Butterfly Eyes

from the Hardys ♥

Let it Snow!

I just realized I haven't posted anything in January. I was recovering from a bit of surgery on my back to remove a tumor. The tumor was benign and all is well. I must be getting older because it seems to take longer and longer to recover. Goal for 2010: Be Healthy! Meanwhile, the kids enjoyed a few snowstorms we had and built an igloo. Jonny was the master engineer, Hannah the supervisor and snowball maker and Emily the craftswoman. Let it snow!