What is she saying?

See if you can guess what Eden is saying.

What is she saying? from Carissa V on Vimeo.

What are you making?

What is with this weather? It is absolutely freezing here. Just about 3 weeks ago Eden and I were wearing shorts and now it's in the 30s and 40s! Crazy.

Anyway, I am looking forward to making a yummy meal tonight to keep us warm.

Here is what I am making.

Delicious Chili
Peanut Fudge Pudding Cake (in the crock pot!)
Hot Chocolate

RECIPES:

Chili
Ingredients
1 Green bell pepper, chopped
1 Onion, chopped
2 TBSP Olive oil
1 Clove garlic, minced (or a TBSP of garlic from a jar)
1 Pound ground beef
3 Cans diced tomatoes (I buy the HEB brand Chili Style diced tomatoes - makes a yummier chili)
1 Can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 TBSP chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
Fritos
Grated Cheddar

Directions
1. Heat olive oil in a large stock pot (dutch oven) on med/high heat
2. Saute chopped green bell pepper and onion until onion is translucent and pepper is tender.
3. Add garlic, cook for another minute
4. Add ground beef and cook until completely browned
5. Add all cans of tomatoes
6. Add all seasonings (you can add the seasonings to fit your taste)
7. Stir and let simmer 30 minutes or so on med heat
8. Add the kidney beans last
9. Serve with fritos and cheese, YUM!!!

Peanut Fudge Pudding Cake
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cups sugar, divided
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup milk
2 TBSP vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 cup boiling water
Chopped peanuts (optional)
Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Directions:
1. Coat crock pot with nonstick cooking spray or butter. Combine flour, 1 cup sugar and baking powder in medium bowl. Add milk, oil, vanilla, and peanut butter. Mix until well blended. Batter will be thick so you need to spread it into the crock pot.

2. Combine remaining 3/4 cup sugar and cocoa powder in small bowl. Stir in boiling water. Pour into crock pot over batter. DO NOT STIR!!

3. Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until toothpick or knife inserted into center comes out clean. Allow cake to rest 10 minutes, then scoop into serving dishes.

***This recipe makes it's own fudge topping so be sure to spoon some from the bottom of the crock pot.
This cake is so yummy we don't usually add ice cream and peanuts. The chocolate gooey fudge is just enough!!

We will also be enjoying some yummy Butter Nut or Ghiridelli hot chocolate!!

What will you be making this cold winter night??

Enjoy your cold evening and stay warm!! :)

Update

Wow, it's been a long time since I have really updated this thing.

Eden is just growing up too fast these days. She is VERY vocal and repeats EVERYTHING you say. She is doing really well with putting words together too. She isn't making sentences quite yet but she is getting very close. The longest thing she says is part of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star - she says "How I woner what chu are!" So cute. She knows her numbers 1 through 10 and she knows about 5 colors. I can't believe she will be 2 in just 3 short months!

My pregnancy is going really well so far. I struggled through my first trimester with Eden so I wasn't really looking forward to being pregnant again for that reason, but God has been so wonderful in keeping me healthy. I have had some rough days but not nearly as bad as with Eden. I still take Zofran (anti-nausea) when I need it and that really seems to get me through my days. The babies are doing great. I went in a couple weeks ago and they were both very active and wiggly. They look like little gummy bears. I go in next week for another ultrasound and can't wait to see them again.

In December we had Ryan Price - a talented photographer friend of ours from College Station take some family photos. He is amazing and did a fantastic job. Here is his website if you want to check him out. Here are some of our favorite pictures he took that day.

Go Away Sickness!

Sorry for lack of postings. We found out Friday that Eden has Strep. Poor baby. She is so much better today. I, however either got Strep too or a sinus infection. Thankfully, I was able to get some medicine and I'm feeling better today too. We are so tired of being sick around here! Eden has had a few little colds/fever within the last few months and that combined with my morning sickness and Nick having a cold a few weeks ago has not been too fun - we are DONE!!! No more is allowed in my house! Go away!

While I have the chance, I would like to brag on my amazing and wonderful husband. He has been so patient with me as I have been dealing with morning sickness and has done so much around here. I know it's hard for him to understand how I am feeling (and I think he will scream if I tell him something else stinks - my smeller is acting crazy) but he has been there for me picking up my slack and I am just so blessed to have him as my husband. By the way, I didn't blog about this because our December was just so crazy, but on December 16th we celebrated our THIRD anniversary. I'm still in shock that we have been married for 3 years (amazing years!). This year we were just thinking how crazy it is going to be that next year as we celebrate, we will have 3 kids not 1. Wow! God has really blessed us and we are so grateful. I couldn't imagine living this life with anyone else. I love you, babe!

Vann Pop. 5 !!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Its been a long time since I(Nick) have written a post on here. Just wanted to share about our great day of Thanksgiving! We started the morning out with a Vann family tradition, the Turkey Trot. Eden stayed with G.G. and Papa and Carissa, Connor(Carissa's Brother) and I did the 5k run. None of us trained for it so our goal was to finish without walking, ha ha ha. We met our goal and all actually ended up with good times! Check us out...






Then we headed to Carissa's Grandparents house where we had an incredible meal that all the women contributed to. Seriously, we are so blessed to have families that can cook such awesome meals.







Finally, we went to my parents house where we ate pie and spent the evening with great family!



Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I am thankful for a selfless, loving and beautiful wife. Also, for a loving daughter that brings so much joy to my life. Most importantly I am thankful for my salvation and the love and grace my Savior so willingly gives.

I'm gonna miss this!!!

Have you heard the song by Trace Adkins called "You're Gonna Miss This"?

Click here for the video...

That is me!

It's where I'm at at least these days. I have to keep reminding myself that these are some of the best times in my life and I truly am loving every second!

I still can't believe that Nick and I will be married 3 years in December and that Eden will be 2 in April! Time really is flying and I'm just being reminded that each day is so precious and every moment should be lived like our last.

I'm also reminded of the precious blood of Christ shed for me. That each day I need to be reminded of that too and remember His sacrifice.

I have been thinking about the Holiday season lately and have really felt God calling me to slow down. I feel like Holiday's are so rushed and the true meaning gets lost in all the "hustle and bustle." The past few Christmas's in our house have been crazy. Three Christmas's ago, Nick and I were busy that entire November and first of December getting our wedding together, finishing up internships, and graduating college. That year we got married, came home from our honeymoon the night before Christmas Eve, and moved the day after Christmas back to College Station so Nick could finish up school. The next Christmas I was pregnant and at that point was finally feeling well after being so sick during my first trimester. I was so glad to be better that I was focused on actually preparing for our baby to arrive. Last year, we left the day after Christmas with our 8 month old and Nick's family to Utah for skiing and vacationing. Don't get me wrong all of those Christmas's were a blast and wouldn't trade them for a minute, but this year I want things to be different. I want and hope that this year we can just sit back and enjoy the Holiday season without having too much going on. I want us to focus on Christ's birth and remember that our KING was born and remember His life and sacrifice made for us!

If you know me well at all you know I LOVE Christmas music and if it was up to me, I would have my house already decorated. Unfortunately, the decorations are in the attic and Nick won't get them down until after Thanksgiving. Haha....

I heard this song about 2 years ago and fell in love with it. What a perfect message it has for this season. Really listen to the words!

Click Here for 2000 Decembers Ago by Joy Williams

I hope you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving week!

Joyfully His,