Goodbye Elementary School

Ashlan graduated from 4th grade yesterday.  Why a graduation for 4th grade?

In our school district, the elementary schools are Kindergarten - 4th.  After 4th, the students move to the Intermediate School (5th-6th grade)

So basically, they graduated Elementary School.

Here is Ashlan the morning of graduation.

(10 years old)

Her school did graduation right!  I was very impressed!

Each child walked across the stage to receive their diploma, while displaying a baby picture, a kindergarten picture and a recent picture on the screen.

They also read a short summary that each child wrote about their years at the school.

After each student walked the stage, they played an adorable video of all the 4th graders participating in a flash mob type dance to the song Happy.

I wish I could share that video with you.  It was so awesome and very well done!

Once the ceremony was over, the students went back to their individual classrooms with their family to watch another slideshow, more on a personal level.

(the slideshow included personal notes to each student from their teacher, followed by a personal note from the student to their parents - keyword here….SOB.  Such sweet notes brought lots of tears!)

Ashlan and her fabulous teacher, Mrs. Vela.

Mrs. Vela's girls!

(the girls in her class)

Kate graduated 8th grade last week, and now that Ashlan had had her graduation it was time to make graduation cupcakes!!!

(school colors - black and red)

We are very proud to be LoveJoy Leopards!!!!

Project Morgan 2014

The forms are complete.  We can finally see the outline of the house and how it lies on the lot.

We have a corner lot with the front door facing the corner, which somehow led to us having a house with about six sides.

This picture was taken while standing in the backyard.  

Brent is walking the forms while looking at the house plans trying to figure out what rooms are where.

Headed to High School...

Today was Kate's 8th grade Awards Ceremony.

Her days of middle school are quickly coming to an end and she will be off to high school.

This girl is so ready to be a Freshmen! She talks about it with excitement DAILY!

 Kate's mom joined us for her Awards Ceremony.  

Kate was crazy excited to have this opportunity to get a picture with her mom AND dad!

She walked across the stage while being recognized for:

 All A Honor Roll

(the child is in all AP/Honors classes via the Accelerated Program 

and never made below a 95 in any class all year)

Athletics

(Volleyball, Cheer, Track)

Band Member

(percussion)

Member of the Craft Club

(we didn't even KNOW she was a part of that club - odd)

From the age of 2 when she officially became my "first daughter" to today at the age of 14…

Beautiful, inside and out.  We are so proud of you, Kate!  We know you will continue to "WOW" us with your determination, leadership, and drive to be the best you can be!

Project Morgan - Moving Dirt

And it happened………we started moving dirt!

Thankfully our lot is fairly level. 

All we needed to do was move a foot from the back of the lot to the front.

Ashlan begged to drive by the lot after her volleyball tournament so she could see the progress.

Who knew "moving dirt" would be so exciting!!!!

Project Morgan 2014

Can it really be happening?  

After over a year of planning, changing lots, changing architects, and eventually changing builders….  It's time to build a home!

(I'll spare you the details on what led us to all the changes I just mentioned)

Nonetheless, these changes were all a part of God's plan and His plans are perfect.  That itself has become so obvious to us over this past year!  I'll be honest in saying I wasn't a fan of God's timing.  My patience has been tested beyond measure this year, but if you are patient enough to wait for Him to reveal His plan, it'll be perfect!

We are looking at 10-12 months until completion, "10 months in a perfect world"(builder's words)

So here is our lot right now.  

Permit box has been installed by the city and we are ready for the bulldozer to be delivered so we can MOVE DIRT!!!!

I'm excited to document this build from beginning to end!  

Keep posted for updates and pictures on Project Morgan 2014~~

My Mother's Day

This is my mom, 9 months pregnant with me.

And here she is with me at just a few weeks old.

My mom is the most beautiful woman I know.  Inside and out.

We celebrated Mother's Day this year by having brunch together.

And you know what was so special about this Mother's Day?

I got to dine with my mother AND my mother-in-law!

My mom, dad, and sister

 My in-laws

With our mothers…

And you see that little girl there…she made me a mother!

It was one of my favorite Mother's Days.

Not only did I have both my mother's with me that day, but it was also my 10th year of being a mom!

I love both my mother's and I absolutely LOVE being a mother myself!

Kate's Last 8th Grade Pep Rally

Last week Kate performed at her last middle school pep rally.

She has enjoyed cheer, but will be trying new things in high school.

Kate used to get upset with me during her elementary school days because I'd buy dresses and hair bows for her.  I even have a handwritten note from her in the 4th grade stating how she didn't like me because I made her wear dresses and hair bows...  

Wow, have times changed.  Check out that huge cheer hair bow she GLADLY wore!

In the Fall, when Kate enters high school, she will be moving on from cheer and enrolling in the Freshmen dance class - in hopes of making the school dance team her Sophmore year.

Another elective she is leaving behind is Band.  She has been a part of the percussion ensemble for the past 3 years.  We are sad to see her give that up (so is her band instructor), but her passions are changing.  

The elective that will take the place of band next year will be Student Council.

Kate decided to run for Freshmen Class President and she GOT IT!

Very proud of Kate's determination and drive!

Lots of changes for Kate as she goes into high school, but we are all very excited about these changes and we know she will thrive!

Rocky Road Brownies

My favorite ice cream flavor is Rocky Road.  If it's a choice at the local ice cream shop, I'm getting it every.single.time.

So you shouldn't be surprised that when I saw these brownies on Pinterest, I had to make them.

(photo courtesy of Pinterest)

Ingredients:

Brownie Mix - any box from store

(I picked up this low fat fudge brownie mix at the store.  Good stuff!)

Rocky Road topping:

1 cup milk chocolate chips

1 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts, but any nuts will do)

1 (10 oz) bag mini marshmallows

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Spray 9x13 pan.  Cook brownies as directed on box. 

 Remove brownies from oven and top with chocolate chips, marshmallows, and chopped nuts. 

 

Place back in the oven for about 3 minutes, or until the marshmallows double in size. 

Remove from oven and let cool. 

 Makes about 24 brownies.

This recipe was incredibly easy! And very very good!

Crock Pot Chocolate Lava Cake

During my blog hiatus, I used Pinterest a lot for cooking/baking recipes.  Unfortunately, I took no pictures or blogged about any of them.  But since I'm back in the blog world, it's time to take record of what I'm cooking/baking using Pinterest because after all,  PINTEREST TOLD ME TO COOK IT!

Let's take last nights dessert and talk about it!

Crock Pot Chocolate Lava Cake

Oh, yum!!!

(picture courtesy of Pinterest)

1. Grab a 3-4 quart crock pot and line it with parchment paper. Spray the inside of the paper with cooking spray. The parchment paper helps the cake cook without burning along the edges. You can make it without the paper, just be sure to watch it closely.

2. Find yourself a nice chocolate cake mix and pour it into your stand mixer or medium-sized mixing bowl.

3. Add 1 1/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup oil and 3 eggs. Beat on low-speed for 1 minutes. Scrape the bottom of the bowl and beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes or until the batter in nice and glossy.

4. Pour the batter into the lined crock pot.

5. Pour one small box of chocolate pudding into your stand mixer or medium-sized mixing bowl. Add 2 cups cold milk and beat it until the pudding thickens. Should take about 3-4 minutes.

6. Pour the pudding over the top of the cake batter. Don’t stir it. Really, cross my heart and hope to die. It will cook up best if you leave the layers be.

7. Grab a bag of milk chocolate chips and pour the pretty little things all over the top of the pudding. Again, please do not stir it.

8. Cover the crock and cook on low for 2 1/2 hours (add another 1/2 hour if you have it lined with parchment paper), or until the top of the cake is set.

9. Place a scoop in a bowl and add some ice cream on top!

Looking and smelling delicious!

People, this was fabulous!!  

It is definitely a sweet dessert, but take each bite as a mix of lava and ice cream and BOOM! - so fabulous!!

Just like you'd order it in a fancy restaurant- double thumbs up!