Basement Pics

We got our basement finished before Christmas. Well, at least the walls and carpet. We still haven't decorated much, but since then, we've completed all plugs and lights, which is so nice.


Here are a few before pictures.


Believe it or not, we actually had oak strips on our walls. Real oak. Ugly oak, but real. As you can see, it was supposed to be some sort of cool pattern......but we think it was really somebody's way of recycling the wood. "Hey, let's put these oak strips on the WALL.....just for fun." Very strange! But it was a great conversation piece. (Notice the cable strip; it was a nice touch and added quite a bit more for conversation's sake).

This is what it looked like after we started to remove the oak. They were glued and nailed to the wall underneath.

And here is what we discovered in one section. Yes, those are mirror strips. Another recycling project, do you think?

This is all the wood in our backyard, which will be recycled once again.....for firewood. It has sat all winter, unfortunately, so it's lost its pretty shine.... :) But once it gets chopped up, it will make for some warm fires.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a shot of our back stairway. I don't know why I didn't take one. This is an old picture from a couple of years ago, when Jacob had fallen asleep on the bottom step. It's the only one I could find to show what it looked like. Sadly, it was actually worse than this. The bottom half was very ugly, brown paneling.....and the top half was a 70's style, swirled paint design. This picture just doesn't do justice, but hopefully you'll get an idea of it's grossness!

This is the brown paneling now stacked in our garage. Still very disgusting. It literally had scratches from top to bottom from some large-clawed creature that must have inhabited this house before us......

And here is our NEW back stairway. The hand railing isn't painted yet, but for now, I'm just glad it's up. Do you see our little Ziggy at the bottom peering up?

One corner is sort-of like the office part.....

There aren't any oak strips now.....Yipee!

So, like I said, it's not all decorated, but we love, love, love the coziness of this room now. It is perfect for our family and it was worth every penny! :)

Monkey Pudding Recipe

Here is the recipe for Monkey Pudding for those of you who asked. You will go ape for this tasty dessert.... :)

2 1/2 cups milk
1 (6 ounce) box of instant banana pudding
1 (14 ounce) can sweetend condensed milk
1 (12 ounce) container whipped topping
1 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafer cookies
2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
3 bananas

Directions:

1. Combine milk, dry pudding mix, sweetened condensed milk and half of the whipped topping. Mix with mixer.

2. In a serving dish (I just used a 9 x 13 pan), spread a layer of vanilla wafer cookies. Add 1 cup mini marshmallows on top of the cookies. (I didn't use the marshmallows--just a personal preference).

3. Slice bananas and layer on top of the marshmallows.

4. Pour half of the pudding mixture evenly over the cookies and marshmallows.

5. Add another layer of cookies and mini marshmallows. Then pour remaining pudding mixture over the marshmallows.

6. Combine the remaining whipped topping with 1/2 cup marshmallows. (Again, I left out the marshmallows). Spread on top of the pudding.

7. Refrigerate overnight before serving. (Or just make it earlier in the day for later in the evening).

My own side note: I actually put the sliced bananas on top of the pudding mixture, but only because I messed up. So my layering went like this: vanilla wafers, pudding, sliced bananas, vanilla wafers, pudding, then whipped topping. It was delicious. Let me know if any of you make it and if you like it! YUM!

Dallin's creative side

My sweet Dallin is always begging to make some new yummy dessert. He literally checks out books from the school library that has recipes in it. Now I'm not a good cook. Well, I mean, I don't like to cook. I can follow a recipe for the most part, but I don't LOVE it. But how can I turn my Dallin down?

So a few times we've gone through the books and bought the ingredients so we could make one of the dishes from inside.

The one he wanted to make today was called "Monkey Pudding."


From the ingredients it looked like it would taste like a basic banana pudding dessert. You line the pan with vanilla wafers.....

Mix the pudding with milk, whipped cream and sweetened condensed milk, then add a layer of bananas. (It also called for mini marshmallows, but we didn't put them in).....

Then repeat the layering......

And voila! You have this non-fancy, but very easy and yummy delightness!

Dallin was disappointed when we read that it was supposed to be refrigerated overnight, but I told him that since we were making it early in the day, it would probably be okay for dessert tonight.

Well, here's the thing. You know how when you make something yummy and you just plan to take a bite or two out of the pan because after all, you don't want a whole piece.....you just want a taste and you don't think that will be so bad? Plus, a couple of bites don't really count when they're right out of the pan, right?.....but then, before you know it, you've already eaten that square piece because one bite turned into 6 and you just couldn't help yourself.

This was that kind of dessert for me. And I figured I was even more off the hook, since tomorrow is fast Sunday and I'll be skipping a couple of meals anyway......

But listen, I'm telling you, if you like banana cream pie, then you should get this recipe and try it. (If you want it, let me know).......VERY YUMMY! Thanks Dallin for the fun times and the great new dessert.

Admit it, your mouth is watering right now, isn't it?

Cultured

This is about as cultured as we get.....ordering chinese food and attempting to eat it with chopsticks.....

Sadly, this is our kids' first time trying chinese food. (I'm not a huge fan, so we rarely get it).

Dallin liked some of it, but not all of it. He liked the chopsticks though.

And Kyle attempted a try as well....

Me? I'll use a fork, thanks. (And no green peppers please)

And Jacob? Well.....he'll take Arby's.

But the best part of chinese food, as everyone knows, is the fortune cookies....

My fortune? "A pleasant surprise is in store for you soon." Bring it on.....I'm ready.

But Kyle's fortune said this: "You will inherit an unexpected sum of money within the year." I thought that was pretty cool, and was hoping I had received it until Todd pointed out that the only way anyone would be receiving any "inheritance" would be if one of us were to pass.....Uh, okay, nevermind.


But I told Kyle that it probably meant that he would get a dollar from us when he least expected it, so he started singing...."I'm getting a dollar. I'm getting a dollar." Good times!

UGH!

Who needs a toddler when you have a crazy puppy?

Ziggy strikes again.......

There is no end to those chewing jaws.....