Chocolate Brownie Trifle

This Thanksgiving was the first Thanksgiving that I have been married and home, with our family... and once you are married and have a family, that is when you start to pitch in with the food and bring something. This year we were invited to my sister Carinne's house and she asked me to bring a pie. I have to admit... I was nervous because I have never made a pie before and I did not want to botch the Thanksgiving dessert... that would NOT bode well in our family :)

Lucky my sister took pity on me and could hear the sweat beads over the phone when she asked me. She quickly informed me that if I didn't want to bring a pie that would be fine and to just bring whatever I wanted and all I could think was... "Ohhh thank goodness!". I quickly decided to bring a trifle... and guess what! It turned out FABULOUS! All you need is...

Brownie Box Mix

2 Butterscotch Instant Pudding Boxes

8 oz of Cream Cheese (not too hard)

Nilla Wafers

Cool Whip

4 Chocolate Bars

1. Bake the brownies, but don't bake them trying to get them soft and gooey. You want them a little chewy so bake them the full time, probably an extra 5 mins or so, but you be the judge of how long... you know your oven. When they are finished let them cool nice and good. Then break them into large pieces for now.

2. Make the 2 boxes of pudding, once made, soften the cream cheese and mix that into the pudding.

3. Cut the chocolate bars into small little chunks.

4. Now when everything is diced, mixed, and cooled you can now start to layer your trifle. First grab a few chunks of brownies and start to crumble them into a lot smaller pieces. Remember that you will have two more layers, so don't use too much of anything. Once brownies are down, place a layer of pudding, then take some Nilla Wafers and crumble some over the placed pudding. I used about 6 or so cookies per layer. After the wafers are spread, then get some Cool Whip and layer (this will be a little difficult to get the cool whip to not pull up the wafers), when the whip cream is layered then take the chocolate chunks and start sprinkling.

5. Repeat step 4 two more times so there will be three layers. Make sure you end with whip cream and chocolate chunks on top to help make it look all fluffy and beautiful!

One of my favorite days during our Chile vacation was taking Lucy to the beach. She was just so dang cute in her little swim suit and just loved the sand... I don't know which she loved more... eating it, playing with it, or simply rubbing it in her eyes. :)

Thanksgiving Crafts

With Thanksgiving only a few days away now, I thought some of these fun ideas might be nice. With center pieces, place holders, and crafty decorations to choose from, you will have a kitchen that says Thanksgiving in no time.

Pilgrim Place Card

Corn Candle Center Piece

Blessing Box

Pumpkin Center Piece

Family Vacations

FAMILY MOMENT MONDAY
Hello one and all. I am officially back and on the blogging market. I was really disappointed with my blogging-while-traveling ability, I just had a hard time sitting down and getting it done and when I did I was always trying to figure out the Spanish on the internet (Curtis's whole family speaks Spanish and some of their stuff is set on Spanish not English). But I am back and in time for Family Moment Monday and I have to say that all I could think about for F.M.M. was family vacations.

What a great way to spend time as a family. Dad is away from the office, mom isn't having to be distracted with cleaning, and siblings are around not at friends' houses and school. Family vacations are really the only time that a family can get away from the every day issues and just be.... a family.

Trips can be expensive and even hard to plan sometimes, but whether the dream is to head over seas or to simply go on a three day camp out, you will have your time together, which is more important than the location.

The best way to get yourself started is to pick an amount you can afford to spend/save for, then with that in mind pick a location, and step three is simply start saving. Even have the kids help out with the planning if you want and let them put in their two cents... metaphorically and literally, because it is their vacation too so it wouldn't be a bad idea to let your children understand that they can help with family things too.

P.S. Sorry I have been trying to post photos from the vacation, but I can't get Blogger to post.

There Has Been A Gap

I have not been kidnapped by rebelious Chileans, I have been missing (even though I said I would be posting while gone) because I have had less access to a computer than I thought I would. And when I am on the computer a lot of it is in Spanish, so that makes it difficult, and as I have learned from this trip... HIGH SCHOOL SPANISH DOES CRAP! ha ha :)

But to give you an idea of things I am going to write about when I get back, which is in a couple days.... here is the WORLD's LARGEST SWIMMING POOL and we got to swim in it .... yep... that light blue water is the pool! No joke!

Diversity Night

FAMILY MOMENT MONDAY
Wow, airplanes and baby... I have figured out that they do NOT mix.... well... they don't mix well :) Thank goodness we have a nice pit stop in Vegas before continuing on to Chile, because Lucy was in need of a break... I should probably say that Curtis and I were in need of a break. With our vacation on my mind I thought a great idea for a family night could be a culture night and I don't mean which fork is the salad fork culture night, but a fun country/ethnic night.

Have your family vote on a culture or country that you all find interesting then devote a night to that. For example, lets say your family votes on Hawaii, then go and do some research... find some clothes, foods, games, or traditions that are common and do them.

It can be a serious activity for your family where the kids learn about different cultures and tradtions OR a fun silly night where the family dresses in Hawaiian shirts and grass skirts drinking out of coconuts and watching Lilo and Stitch. Either way it will be fun and either way you are together as a family.

Please remember to add your link only if you are participating in Family Moment Monday. Family Moment Monday consists of people who are sharing crafts, activities, lessons, ideas, service projects or anything else that you can learn/do/enjoy as a family in your post. Please remember to link back to Motherhood For Dummies, so others can learn about F.M.M. and participate too.

South American, Here We Come

And we are off! Soon the Rappleyes will be heading down to Chile for some good quality time with the in-laws (don't worry... I will still be posting). Yep.... I said Chile.... Santiago, Chile to be exact. My family keeps asking me if I am so excited to be heading down to South America and I feel bad because all I can say is, "no". Not because it won't be fun, it is just that I am so nervous about a flight with a one year old... a one year old who can't sit still and has discovered tantrums. :) So, I am more over come with fear than excitement...as of now.

But I feel horrible about that because this is a wonderful opportunity that we are getting, so I decided that I need to focus on the things that will be awesome about leaving and heading to Chile.

Leaving The Politics Behind
I know that the President-elect has been decided, but it still seems like this has been going on forever and I think I just need a few days of politically free conversations. Don't get me wrong, this was an amazing race and wonderful to watch, but I think I need a political fast right now :)

Warm Weather
Right now Chile is averaging around 75* in November.... which I think sounds better than the 25* Anchorage has been averaging.

Stopping By In Vegas
We are having a three day layover in Vegas to spend time with Curtis's sister and her in-laws that we have missed dearly. (Wud up Wiklers). We have been looking forward to seeing our Lucy and their daughter getting to spend some good cousin time together. I think I need to bring my expectations down a bit though... I keep envisioning them holding hands and skipping into the sunset. :) It will probably be more eye poking, teddy bear stealing, and pacifier hogging than skipping.

Lucy Spending Time With Her Grandparents
Lucy doesn't get to see either sets of grandparents very often, so this is going to be some wonderful time that she will be able to see them, stay with them, and give them a chance to really see her sweet little personality and a tantrum or two :)

Warm Weather
A chance to trade in snow boots for flip flops.... who wouldn't be excited?

Our Layover In Seattle
On our way back from Chile we have a day layover in Seattle which normally wouldn't be very excited (no insult to Seattle) but one of our best friends just recently moved to Seattle for work and we are so excited to see Nate, AKA: Nadean. Our little Lucy hasn't had a chance to see her Uncle Tater in almost a year and we are looking forward to catching up.

Trying Out My Crazy Spanish Skills
Finally my two years of flunked high school Spanish classes will come into play! My dear sweet husband has been trying to help me brush up with things like, "How much", "You have a beautiful home", and at my request... "Help help I am lost and I need a phone!". So, as you can tell... I have been learning a lot :)

Testing My Immunity System Against Their Water
Santiago Chile isn't Tijuana Mexico, but I am still nervous about getting the true South American experience. Hopefully my system isn't too weak from the flu and I will be able to go Italian Stallion on those bug's butts! I guess I should also probably learn how to say, "Bottled water please".

Warm Weather
Is this reason getting old yet?

Letting My Husband Show Me His Life
My husband grew up throughout South America and so he has never had the chance to show me the house he grew up in, the schools he went to, and the places in town that he loves. He is getting really excited to have the chance to show ME around and to be on HIS turf.

Meeting Some Wonderful Latin People
The Latins are such a warm, friendly, loving people and I have never had the chance to visit any Latin countries. I am really looking forward to the people, the colors, the houses, decorations, traditions, and everything else that comes with their great culture.

Warm Weather
Come on... I LIVE IN FREAKIN' ALASKA... I deserve to really count this one!

Lucy, Where Are You?

Can you figure out what she is doing? Cause we are lost!

Happy Election Day

Well today is the day... the end to all those many fliers piling on your doorstep, the countless calls during dinner time asking for your vote, and the annoying non-stop usage of the phrases "need of change" and "maverick". Today is election day.

So, remember to make an informed decision and vote.... also be prepaired because some voting lines are taking hours to get through.

Nothing Like To Flu To Tell You Its Winter Time

Unfortunently my family has come down with the flu and I was up all night getting a good view of the inside of a toilet and now I am taking care of my sweet hubby who seems to be coming down with it. So, I wont be posting for own F.M.M., but I still will host it.... sorry and happy Family Moment Monday

Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN - FROM THE RAPPLEYES AND THE PIGGY