Hola cómo está usted?

Translated "Hello, how are you?" Yes my vocabulary doesn't go much further than that in Spanish. Well, maybe Adios Amigos. The time has come the countdown clock is almost up, I'm off to Costa Rica to see my Son. Two years ago today on Valentines I had my heart ripped out as I said goodbye to him in the MTC. I then went to the mall with Jared, Lexi and Lynn and do what always makes me feel better, shop and eat chocolate. We ate these wonderful chocolate covered strawberries and then we had our Valentine dinner at P.F. Chang's. Two years later I am now going to go hug my son and bring him home. I am so very proud of Josh, he has been a wonderful Missionary and our family has been blessed with his service he has given. He has grown to love the people of Costa Rica and is struggling to leave them. I know he has blessed their lives as they have blessed his.
I thought I would post a few of my favorite pictures from his mission and when I return I hope to share our wonderful reunion. 

Vintage Valentines

I love the vintage valentine cards, I came across some of the ones that I remember when I was a little girl. I think the message on these older valentines are so cute much better (I think) than the ones today. One of my favorite is  "What's Cookin' Good Lookin" and of course the Peas in a Pod. I hope you all spend some time today with the ones you love and will eat lots of Chocolate!

Conversation Heart Messages

I found this web site where you can write your own message on a heart for those special people in your life. I made some for those who mean so much to me. Happy Love Day!
The site is... http://www.cryptogram.com/hearts/

Happy Birthday to My Dad!

February always reminds me of my Dad, he was born on Abraham Lincoln's birthday which is why his name is S. Lincoln Haacke. My Mom would always call him Abe, and he was known to everyone as honest Abe. That he was, and more, I always wondered how he put up with us 6 girls, taking the bathroom all the time, dealing with those girl emotions and having to put up with the boys calling and ringing the door bell all the time. He was always a gentleman around us and taught us good manners. Dad never let us girls sleep in even on weekends he would be talking into the intercom waking us up and by singing Rise and Shout the Cougars are out. I miss my Dad very much and can't wait till that day when I will see him again.
Every birthday my Mom would make his favorite cake it was a Red Velvet a special recipe of hers, she entered it in a contest and won $300.00 for it. I remember peeking under the foil and tasting some of the frosting and couldn't wait until we could eat it. I thought I would share my Mom's special recipe, perfect for Valentines Day. Happy Birthday Dad, I Love You!




RED VELVET CAKE (300.00)

1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 T. cocoa
2 oz red food coloring (yes 2 - 1 oz bottles)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 cup cake flour
1 1/2 tsp soda
1 tsp vinegar

Cream butter, sugar and eggs. Make a paste of the cocoa and vanilla, then add buttermilk and flour alternately and beat until very smooth. Mix the soda with the vinegar and fold in. Don't beat. Bake in two 9" pans in 350 oven for 30 minutes. Frost with Heavenly Frosting. (My Mom would bake hers in a 9x13 pan, frost and then sprinkle with finely chopped nuts)

HEAVENLY FROSTING

5 T. flour
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter

Cook flour and milk and stir constantly until thick. (this will be a very thick paste). Let the four and milk mixture cool. Cream together sugar, butter and vanilla, then add the flour mixture and beat on high speed until it is the consistency of whipped cream. Spread on cake.

Krispy Kreme Disappointed Me

A couple of days ago I posted about Krispy Kreme doughnuts making heart shaped doughnuts, I was so excited to go get some for an activity I had on Saturday, but when I got there they had no heart shaped doughnuts and they said they didn't make them, I asked them about the advertisement they had and they said that only some stores in the East do that. I was very disappointed Krispy Kreme's so I deleted their add on my blog, but I did get the valentine cards for buying 4 dozen doughnuts, they are cute and each card is good for 1 free doughnut.

There is another place I was excited about that makes heart shaped pizza. There is a new Pappa Murpheys by me and they make your pizza and you take it home and bake it. I first had this pizza in Utah when I went to my sisters house for dinner. It was very good so I was excited when they build one by us. Here is the add...

Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza is showing its big heart once again this year by offering customers the popular Heart-Shaped Pizza for Valentine's Day at a great low price. Topped with freshly grated cheese and loads of pepperoni, the Heart-Shaped Pizza is a fun, freshly made meal for parents leaving kids with the babysitter ont Saturday night…or for those staying in and celebrating together.

Good Valentines Day Dessert!

Last week I took my turn having the
Missionary Mom's) Group at my house, we each talked about how our Missionary's are doing, I love to hear the stories their Mom's share, all 13 of them (soon to be 12 hehe). I gave each Mom a Candy Bar Letter Kit to send them for Valentines Day. I always look forward to when we meet each month, and get great things to send to our Sons. I made a dessert that is good for Valentine's Day coming up, several people have asked for the recipe so I thought I would post it. It is delicious, so warning it takes a lot of willpower not to eat the whole thing.

Raspberry Dream Dessert!

2 cups flour
1 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 pkg Raspberry Danish Dessert Mix
1 1/2 cups water
1 pkg frozen raspberries
2 env. dream whip
1 cup powdered sugar
1 8oz. pkg cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix flour, butter, brown sugar, and nuts.  Spread in 9x13 pan.  Bake at 375 degrees for 15 min.  Remove 1/2 of crumb mixture and set aside.  Spread remaining 1/2 mixture in pan.  

Prepare Danish Dessert Mix using 1 1/2 cups water.  Cool slightly and add raspberries.  Set aside.

Prepare Dream Whip as directed on envelope.  Stir into cream cheese which has been softened and mixed with powdered sugar and vanilla.  Spread this mixture on crumb layer in pan.  Spoon raspberry mixture over this layer.  Top with remaining crumbs.  Chill - Yum-0

I Love Valentines Day!

I love Valentines Day, I have so many fun memories as a girl, making a valentine box in school and going around slipping those valentines in others boxs. There was always that special one for a special person right? and hoping that special person would leave one in your box and say something sweet. I loved making valentines and delivering them at night to all my friends, leaving them on the door step, ring the bell and run. I loved going to the Daddy Daughter Date with my Dad and getting my pictures taken with him in front of a huge heart. Now I love sharing Valentines Day with my husband and children. I like to try to make it special for my kids and I'm always looking for fun things to do for them. There is a video from the website "cute valentines" press the button to the right it is from KSL Studio 5 it shows some very cute ideas, I listed some of them. I will probably be posting more about Valentines Day!

1. Put a can of FANTA soda in a cellophane bag with some taffy and chocolate: "Make my FANTA-sy come true … Be my Valentine!"
2. Wrap up a bag of Swedish fish: "It's O-FISH-al! I'm in love! Will you be mine" or "You're O-FISH-ally the best kid around … Happy Valentine's Day" or "FISHing a Happy Valentine's to the best CATCH around!"
3. Give chocolate covered cinnamon bears, marshmallow bears, or a stuffed bear: "Moms and chocolate make life more BEAR-able!" (Can be altered in a million different ways to include sisters and friends)
4. Tie a six pack of soda with a ribbon: "You are SODA special! Happy Valentine's Day!"
5. Wrap a can of Pringles to look like a stick of dynamite: "I think you are DYNAMITE! TNT!"
6. Tie a tag to a bottle of root beer: "Go ahead, kick up those heels! Have a ROOTIN'-TOOTIN BOOT-SCOOTIN Valentine's Day!"
7. Tied to a purse: "Happy Valentine's Day to someone with a cute PURSE-onality! Luv ya!"
8. A bottle filled with candy: "My love for you has been BOTTLED up for too long … so here it is! I love you!"
9. Tied to a can of Crush soda: "I've got a CRUSH on you!"
10. Tied to a jar of honey: "Will you be my HONEY?"
11. Tied to anything sweet for a fun teacher gift: "Please sit back and enjoy a TREAT … you deserve it".