What I took to Thanksgiving

Like we should always do let us start with the dessert.
Italian Cream Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degress
Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix
1 pkg vanilla instant pudding mix
1 1/3 cups water
1/4 cup oil
4 eggs
1 1/3 cups coconut
1 cup pecans
Combine all ingredients. Grease and flour 2 round pans. Pour batter in and bake 32 to 37 minutes.
I let the cake cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then  flip out/wrap in plastic wrap, and laid my layers flat in the freezer for 24 hours.
Icing: Cream Chease Frosting:
Ingredients:
1/3 cup butter
8 oz cream cheese
4 cups powdered sugar
4 tbsp heavy whipping cream
1/2 tsp vanilla
Beat all together until smooth. Then ice your cake. Garnish with coconut flakes and pecans.


Sweet Potato Souffle:
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/2 stick of butter
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
Topping: I double each of these ingredients
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 stick of butter

Mix together potato ingredients. Pour into a greased baking dish and sprinkle topping over souffle. Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes.


Pineapple Casserole:
1 (20oz) can chunk pineapple
1/3 cup sugar
3 tbsp. flour
3 tbsp. pineapple juice
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup crushed saltine crakers
1/2 stick of melted butter

Drain can of pineapple into a seperate bowl. Combine suger, flour, and juice. Mix them together. Add in your pineapple and cheese. Top with crakers; pour melted butter on top. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are so blessed in so many ways. We also enjoyed spending dinner with our friends and their family.

Yummy

Charles' description on his first experience with French toast was tonight. It was a hit. He said ummm yummy.

The recipe I used.

24 Weeks

How far along am I? 24 weeks 
Clothes: All maternity at this point it is just more comfortable.
Cravings: I have just been really hungry and it doesn't matter what it is as long as I get to eat. I will not turn down sweets though.
Loving: Feeling little kicks and punches that are getting so much stronger. I'm pretty sure I felt the baby doing flips in my belly too. I know this will not happen much more because of room issues.
Not Loving: All the bathroom trips daytime and nighttime. I'm still struggling with sleeping because of my hips.
Looking Forward to:Tomorrow I go in for the BIG Ultrasound! To say I am anxious is an understatement. I look forward to seeing this precious baby's face, hearing a healthy heart beat, and just being in awe of this special little one. Please pray all is well and healthy. We are also going to make double sure that it is a girl, so hopefully the baby will behave so we can be certain. 
Not Looking Forward to: The waddle.

Soon I will post baby bedding choice and what the baby's lovey will be. Big Ultrasound pictures too!

Reading Link Up

So if you follow this blog you know how much I love to get into a good book. I love sharing with each of you books that I enjoy and like to try out books you suggest.  Today I am linking up with http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/2013/11/whats-on-your-winter-reading-list.html. You will find so many great suggestions. So many books so little time.
These are the books I have read so far in November:

 The Icing on the Cake is the second book in the series, so check out Picture Perfect first.

 Secrets over Sweet Tea is a wonderful southern book about 3 different families finding healing and renewing their hearts. There is also a devotional the author wrote to go along with it called: Reclaiming your Heart: A journey back to laughing, living, and loving. This book will have you laughing out loud and at other times hurting and crying along with the characters. Secrets over Sweet Tea is christian fiction.

Be Sweet- takes you through two middle-aged daughters coming to grips with their past and moving on toward a brighter future.

Books on Deck:

One of my goals for the year is to read a book a week. My current standing is 47 books read, only 5 to go.

I would also like to say happy Veterans Day to those that served and are serving. Thanks also to your families because you make huge sacrifices too!

Date Night

Last night Patrick and I went on a date to see a play: Thoroughly Modern Millie. It was so much fun and the high school students did a fantastic job as always putting on a show. I am so impressed with the talent at such a young age.The play was a fun representation of a young lady moving to the big city from small town America in the 1920's. Of course I loved not only the acting but the costumes were fantastic. Mr. Faris did an amazing job as always getting everything just right. He is an excellent director. Mr. Sweeney's work with the students on their songs was just right.Mrs. Klein worked with the many dance numbers and they did a wonderful job. Lastly, Mr. Nissen, a retired art teacher from CHS, came back to do the beautiful sets. Way to go all!
I would also like to state that this date would not have been possible if not for our great friends the Oxleys. They provided care for Charles while we went out, and let me tell you he just loves going to their house and playing. We reminded him of who he was going to visit before supper, and told him he must eat well in order to go. He ate great! After he finished eating he was in a rush to get us out the door. He kept saying shoes on mommy and daddy. Because we were not moving fast enough he would go get our shoes and bring them to us. In other words it was a great night for everyone.
If you live in the Carroll area you should check into tickets for Saturday night and go support these talented young adults. If you live in other areas check with your local drama teacher at your high school to see when they have their next show. Then go check it out!

Shower

Yesterday a very sweet and generous faculty and staff at Carroll High where Patrick works gave a shower for those of us that have had or will be having a baby this school year. It was a lot of fun and there were some really tasty treats to eat. 3 of the 4 babies have already entered the world I was the only pregnant lady. It was so much fun getting to see and hold all the cute little babies.

We are so thankful!

Love, 

Patrick, Brooke, Charles, & Baby Meredith

In the Jungle

Our sweet friends Mike and Kim recently had a baby boy. We were able to attend a lovely shower for them and sweet baby Jace. Kim has been a huge Lion King fan for a very long time and the baby's nursery is Lion King, so her shower was very fitting. Each food item related to the movie. It was a very cute and thought out shower. Plus he is just a cute little bundle of joy.

This was a very fun get together because we used to all hang out a good bit, but jobs have moved Kim and Jill to different counties and we don't see each other as much as we would like. Thank goodness for phones and Internet!

Melts My Heart

 Cuddle time while watching television.

I love that he will look at books, and that he loves to be read to. He will chill out with books just like he will with his toys. It does this Mommy's heart good to see him engrossed in books.