a NEW tradition

So I found this recipe for truffles here and decided it might be a fun thing to do on first day off of school.. but in true KyLeyne style I can't do anything tiny so I decided to do 3 different kinds and we'll pass them out to neighbors, friends home teaching families etc. etc. and it was really fun.. the kids got totally into it.. they also said they were really yummy but I must admit I didn't try them.. remember I'm not a chocolate, sweet kinda girl.. I will try a peanut butter one tomorrow I promise.. the kids already have grand plans for next year, they want to dip them in chocolate then put the toppings on.. they also had plenty of ideas of additional toppings we'll do next year...

these were left overs after all the nice box's for giving were filled



white chocolate truffles

Kay forming a white chocolate truffle

the Peanut butter truffles

we put chopped peanuts, coconut, powered sugar, chocolate powdered sugar, red, or green sprinkles
on the truffles then put them in a mini cupcake cup

after all the give away pkg's were done THEN the kids could sample the completed product.. rave reviews so far...





So I think we'd do this again, the kids had a good time and I actually think we made them way bigger than they were suppose to be but what ever I don't think I'd do it any smaller (we 3x the recipe linked for each flavor)...



so back to work, my washer broke AGAIN so I'm trying to figure out what I need to take to the laundromat on Christmas eve.. hopefully just Ben's work stuff!!!

ta ta

oh yea Merry Christmas to all of you!!!











merry christmas!!!

So it's over!!! it was a fun filled day everyone got everything they wanted and more.. and now it's over as quick as it came... tomorrow I will be taking down the tree (which is practically taken down due to the mass amount of needles it is shedding at this moment!) the mantel will no longer house our nativity set and all will be back to normal... I'm kinda ready

So the kids and I have the next week off... We don't have any grand plans we are kinda just getting caught up on laundry and chores around the house..

Some new news, Hunter has been tentatively diagnosed with ADHD, I say tentatively because it's only been through our school psychologist and frankly she's not qualified to actually diagnose she can only let us know he has some indicators.. we have an appt. with our pediatrician from there I think I'm going to ask to be refered to a specialist. I'm not completely against medication BUT I want to be darn sure we aren't just wanting him to be easier to deal with and so zoning him out etc. I'm knee deep in books right now and so far from what I've read he fits the profile kinda right on... it makes me wonder why it's just manifested it's ugly head now in 6th grade but really in hindsight I've seen signs for quite a few years he's just had some AWESOME teachers and low class sizes to be able to manage and get him the one on one help he's needed at times.. Now that he's in a bigger school with more than one teacher things have gotten kinda out of control, but I don't know why I'm surprised, My learning disability wasn't diagnosed until the summer before my 7th grade year and my 6th grade year was kinda a wash as far as learning or grades etc.. BUT my point is we are on top of it.. or at least as on top of it as we can get for now, the lucky part he's brilliant like actually tests off the charts as far as smarts go we just need to be able to teach him the coping skills to be able to get through life or at the very least middle school.
I'm thinking me being at the middle school was no accident... and the fact that I'm actually working in Hunter's cluster (his group of students with the same core of teachers) even more of a blessing... I'm not sure if he would have fallen through the cracks were it not for me being their... it also helps his teachers can tell me when I need to crack the whip etc. etc. it's also helped one particular teacher who was kind of bullying him I could see for myself that allot of what Hunter was complaining about was TRUE!!! (that's an ongoing issue more about that at a later date!)

more fun news Ben and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary yesterday!!! we will be going out to celebrate this weekend (he has to work all week, yuck!) but I can't believe the life we have created together!!! it hasn't always been easy but it has been the most worth while endeavor, the most fun and to do it all with my very best friend, PRICELESS!!! I can't wait to see where the next 15 years takes us.. I love You BEN!!!
anyway that's all for now
ta ta

Merry Christmas to all

So as I'm sure you've all already realized because nothing has been in your mail box's for a while now the Fox's did not send a Christmas Card this year.. for that I'm sorry We love you all so much, but, well I'm over it.. I'll put forth the effort next year i promise as long as there are no ice storms which make us powerless and school-less for days on end then you can count on a cute card from us to you no problems...

But this also kind of gets me out of the dreaded Christmas Letter that I always send.. I use to make fun of mercilessly the Christmas letters we would get as a kid then of coarse I followed suit when I had kids and now since I blog it seems kind of well too much or redundant so if i can resist it next year I'll just direct everyone here to see what we are up to..

In all I'm happy with our our 2008 has turned out.. we've all learned allot and have had lots of fun family time.. don't get me wrong we have had our fair share of fights and tears among us all BUT that's what it's all about isn't it?? I am SOOO thankful for all of my family, what a great plan our Heavenly Father put forth putting us in Family's, We've experienced some great time with the extended fam on Both sides memories we will not soon forget... I am also Thankful for all of my friends... I have come to depend on my friends so much since moving far from family and it's something I have kind of had to learn to do and I'm so thankful Heavenly Father sent me good friends!!!

This Christmas time I need to say that I am so thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ for his Birth and for his ultimate sacrifice in the Atonement which helps me daily in making correct choices and giving me a break when I don't make great choices.. I have tried to make a renewed commitment to remember what Christmas is REALLY about and I feel like I still need work on that regard (not in the knowing but in the expressing and living) but it has helped me so much this year to take a breath and enjoy and remember the season...

We have had an awesome but FAST 2008 and I look forward to what 2009 has to bring..
we love you all!!!
ta ta

p.s. I'm getting irony that this post is kinda like the Christmas letter i always send.. I guess old habits die hard!!! haha

Merry Christmas

We had a great day!!! the kids were told not to come down stairs until 7:00 and at about 6:15 we heard the boys were up.. i went up stairs to tell them they couldn't wake KayLea up but if she woke up on her own before 7 they could come down stairs.. and as soon as i came down stairs i hear KayLea running to the boys room.. i guess my footsteps up and down the stairs woke her up.. (she must not have been that asleep)... anyway we did our usual tradition from when i was a kid.. all the kids have to come to our room and get into bed and wait until Ben has seen if Santa has come (he turns on the tree lights etc).. then they line up youngest to oldest (we had to switch that up a little when i was younger when the youngest's became taller than the oldest's.. that hasn't happened here YET!) and off to the presants.. the kids had a great time

Brad's "big" thing was a cell phone.. Hunter's was a digital camera and

KayLea's was a "My Generation"

doll (American girl knock off) the "boys" (all 3) also got a x-box 360.. they were all very excited and kept ammused ALL DAY a feat in of it self GREAT!!! KayLea LOVED the doll clothes Both Grandma's sent (thanks!) and the boys are already planning on where and what to sepend their money and gift cards on (thanks too!)... we are thinking of some ideas to make room for the table hockey game Grandma and Grandpa Fox sent, and hope to be able to set it up very soon...

Since Ben "missed" Thanksgiving he wanted all the works so we did Turkey, Christmas Potatoes, Mashed potatoes (ok i've just come to decide we as a WHOLE family are obsessed with potato's of every form!) stuffing, and 8 different kinds of sparkling juice (we only finished 4 over the whole day!)

Hope everyone had a great Christmas.. Merry Christmas from us to YOU!!