Wiener Roast in January?

Yes, this picture was taken this afternoon. I'm not sure what the high was today but I think it was in the low 70's. The children had the great idea of having a wiener roast and they did all the work to prepare. Chopping wood and getting it set up.

Our evening ended by getting chased away by a storm quickly approaching. A few of us had our second s'more microwave style!

Love those hotdogs (well maybe not) - just don't think about what's in them! I thought this picture was neat. See how Jesse looks normal but Javan and Jubilee look deformed!

Jolene took this picture, I thought it was kind of neat.

In other news, Jonas is getting around now but I don't have a video yet to upload. It's more of a foot knee thing, not quite sure how to describe it; I'll try to get a video for you.

French Onion Soup

I tried this recipe recently, actually an altered version, and my children loved it. I thought I would share it with you. It is an easy throw together meal.

6 large onions, sliced
1/2 C butter or margarine
6 cans condensed beef broth, undiluted
1 1/2 t Worcestershire sauce
3 bay leaves
10 slices French bread, toasted - not enough for us
Shredded Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses

Another recipe calls for 2 T dry sherry or dry white wine
1t salt
Dash of pepper

Here is what I did

6 large onions
1/2 C butter
6-8 C water
bouillon cubes or powder (doubled recommendation per cup)
1T Worcestershire sauce
1/4 C cooking wine
1t salt
dash pepper

Cook onions in butter till tender and golden
Add remaining ingredients except for bread and cheese. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, toast bread and put on cookie sheet, top with cheese and broil till cheese melts and turns light brown. Float bread atop soup in bowls. Enjoy!

Happy New Year

Good morning! I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable new year's celebration.

We started off our evening by going to church. Afterward we had a snack and played some games with the children. Eventually the games calmed down to sitting on the couch and doing charades, that is when the first one dropped off - daddy. When Jolene and Jared started to complain I decided to go upstairs because I didn't want to carry them to bed. So we finished our night in my leisure room.

Here is the run down of what the Plattners were doing when the clock struck New Years.

Sleeping - III Chad, Jared, and Jolene
Entertaining themselves - II Jubilee and Jonas
Playing / teaching Sudoku - II Javan and LL
Listening to Elsie Dinsmore book on tape - I Jesse

We thank the Lord for His protection and blessing in our lives this year and look forward to trusting Him as He leads us throughout 2008. May we each one be able to look back on 2008 and recognize where God has caused us to grow and become more like Him!

God Bless you in 2008 and always LauraLee