Weezie's pull-aparts

Spray 9x12 pan, Layer pan with frozen sweet bread dough (thawd). Pull the dough apart into small pieces and put in bottom of pan.

Mix together - 1 stick softened butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 large package vanilla pudding (cook and serve), 2 Tablespoons milk. Pour over dough.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover the dough and let rise for 30 minutes. Bake for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown and center is not doughy.

Here are a couple of hints we've learned over the years:

I put down one layer of dough and then pour the mixture and then put down another layer in between the other dough.

You don't really need to measure out the topping - we add a ton of brown sugar - at least two cups, because the more the better! We also add at least a 1/4 of milk it makes it nice and creamy.

The store sells frozen loaves or buns of sweet dough - I usually get the buns. I also let them thaw over night - it often explodes, so don't be alarmed in the morning if you've got a huge pile of dough on your counter.

Cooking times of course vary - sometimes they are done in 25 minutes, sometimes 45 - so check often.

My dad likes to use dark brown sugar and half and half to make them extra rich. He also likes to add nuts to them, so you can put them on the pan before you pour the mixture on the dough.

If you have any questions, just ask! Do not however eat a whole pan in one sitting - Alli and Angie can tell you that you will get sick!

Bacon and OJ

For the two of you that read this, you know that I have an aversion to pig meat, well, most meat actually, but, today, we made pull-aparts and bacon for the boys, and the BABY wanted bacon, so I had some, and boy was it GOOD! I also enjoyed a fantastic glass of orange juice, another thing I don't enjoy while not pregnant. So, bring on the bacon!

New Thor Baby

June 13th. Well, sometime between June 11th and June 13th - new Thor baby arrives. It seems so far away. Yet, I know that the next few months are going to fly by. It's practically Christmas already! Jack will be 2, Porter is going to start preschool - my how time flies...

Porter has become aware of who Grandma Sue was and where she is. It's quite sweet. He says he misses her and he knows she died. I wasn't even sure that he knew who she was. He looked at a picture of her on his dresser and said, "Grandma Sue!" Of course, I cried my eyes out. It is truly amazing what kids know. He said that she was in Heaven with God. And tears..... I am amazed daily at what he does.

Jack is a ham. He's getting two new molars - which makes it pleasant, but he is saying several words and loves to snuggle - which I LOVE!

We're going to Sacramento on the 20th for Garry Kelley's wedding. Margie and Terry are coming to stay and Porter can hardly contain his excitement! It will be nice to get away for a couple of days.

Hugs and Kisses.

Will we ever eat dinner together?

As I sit here and type, I am eating my dinner - a fantastic piece of pizza from Rosati's - which I am quite positive will end up in the toilet in a little while - damn pregnancy. The boys, who have already eaten, are now in the living room designing skyscrapers with their blocks, reading the encyclopedia and sharing everything without fighting. Tom is on his way home from work, at least that is what he said. And I am wondering if we will EVER actually sit down together and eat dinner as a family...which sends my mind into trying to remember how it was when we were growing up - of course, it's difficult for me to remember what I had for breakfast, so this is an arduous task - I can remember as far back as when I was a swimmer and had practice until 7 pm and mom and dad would leave dinner for me in the oven and I would eat it on my own at the dining room table. One of them would maybe sit with me, or they would be helping Sara and Lindsay with their homework.

So, to answer my own question - probably not - life is quite hectic and things are always a little crazy - maybe we'll do Sunday dinners - but first I would have to learn how to cook a couple meals so that we could have more than cereal together as a family...