Breakfast Casserole

This is what I made for the Palmetto Primary Breakfast. I used 16 eggs and 1 cup of milk instead of the the amounts listed below. I didn't salt or pepper b/c the ingredients had enough spice (but add or subtract what you'd like). I'd imagine you could easily substitute the sausage with the breakfast meat (ham, bacon, tofu, turkey) of your choice with out any problem. This also makes a great supper or brunch item. It's a great way to hide veggies (from your kids or hubby) and to get tons of protein in them! Note: if you use frozen spinach, microwave it in the box (I just cut off the top) in a bowl for a minute or so until mostly unfrozen, then pour out and (wait, if too hot) break apart with your fingers, then, over the sink squeeze in your fist until most of moisture comes out. Otherwise it will turn the whole thing green and will add too much liquid.FYI- I used fresh ingredients for the breakfast Sunday (but canned or thawed frozen would work just fine). Breakfast Casserole
By: Lori C. Potter
13x9 pan sprayed with ‘Pam’
1 lb ground sausage, browned and spooned into dish
14 eggs and ¾ cup-ish of milk in blender for 10ish seconds, then pour over sausage
2 cups shredded cheddar spread evenly on top.
(you can also add whatever veggies your heart desires before spreading the cheese and pouring the egg mixture on---spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, scallions, onion, peppers, etc) Bake 25 min at 350 degrees.

A Beautiful Reality

People, relationships and their stories have always been so interesting and important to me. As a little girl, I have dreamed about the days that I am now out living with my friends and family. I have had a wonderful life so far. Through the years I always looked to the future wondering and hoping to know what it would hold for myself and those I love. But my dreams could never compare to the beautiful reality that I am now living. It brings me great joy to see how my friends' and family's happy endings are coming true. I relish the times we have spent together in days gone past. I look forward to an even brighter future and eternity with you. I know that there may be dark or hard times ahead for all of us, but to me, that is part of why I see beauty inside of our relationships. I am so thankful for all the people in my life, past, present and future. I love you all. I am glad to know that you were or are by my side, even if you are far away or we haven’t connected in a while, you are a part of my story and therefore are important to me. Thank you for helping to give me this beautiful reality I call my life.

The Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival

Every year Hunsader farms hold a Pumpkin Festival. I have gone before and this year was even better because I had Mark and Caleb by my side. I have always loved fairs, festivals, and other community events. This usually isn't Mark's scene so I am grateful that he humored me and came along for the ride, but in the end I know that we all had fun!

First stop - Pig show!
This was called the Pork chop review. It was a darling show with these amazing porkers doing stunts. I was quite entertained! At the Strawberry festival this spring we saw pig races but this took the cake.

While that was going on we got to see them shoot pumpkins off in a cannon. It was loud! That was another first for me! Then we met up with our friends the Reynolds,




their niece Marley and one of her friends and hung out with them for the rest of the afternoon.

They all had to ride the PUMPKIN EXPRESS.




You can tell that Caleb and Carson (saying Choo choo) just loved it!




We ate yummy fair food while the kids danced to a country band and even tried pumpkin ice cream.





Then we petted the animals.






Caleb was excited to touch them until he actually did it. Then he jumped back and squeeled! Here I am cracking up because it caught me so off guard!



The weather was beautiful (for South Florida, folks) and the afternoon slipped away fast. So our last stops as they closed were the pony ride and the pumpkin patch.





We brought along Caleb's costume to make sure that we got some great pictures of him in the patch. We had lots of them turn out great.







It was a great afternoon.

Our only regret was that we hadn't come earlier to enjoy more stuff! There were so many fun things to do and try. I know I'll be back next year!




Thanks Mariah for taking these fall family photos. We hope you all come back with us next year too.

FISHING

The Dahles going fishing? What? That may seem strange to some of you who know myself and Mark. It may sound stranger to find that the Dahles hold fishing licences but don't even own any equiptment. But now that is no longer the case! We took some of our bonus money and bought our first family fishing pole in hopes to enter and win another one in our semi annual ward fishing tournament. It was early one Satuday morning in October that we grabbed our gear and headed to the Skyway fishing pier. There we met with friends from our ward family and stake to enjoy a morning of fishing. We parked our poles next to Carl Reynolds' ipod and set up camp. It was a nice sunny day and Caleb did great sitting in his chair eating his snacks like a big boy. Saddly the one Mark caught got away and the two that I caught didn't count for anything! Hopefully we'll have better luck next year! Watch out Sandy Wompey...here we come!

Grandma Cooper comes to stay!

Caleb and his Grandma Cooper got to spend some quality time together last week. They both really enjoyed visiting at our house for a whole 5 days. We shopped until we dropped for curtains, but we didn't find enough of the ones we liked the best. So we were back to square one! But we did make lots of progress towards finding something we like. Grandma also helped us find a new bedding set for our Master Bedroom, that we totally love! Her visit was just what we needed. We love her so much. We miss you already Grandma. You are welcome back anytime.

Recovering Queen!

Thanks to my Mom's visit from October 13th -17th we finally redid my rocker!
Sadly we didn't take a real "Before" picture, but this is of it's matching twin chair that now resides in the office.

This was a special rocker and chair set that Mark and I picked out at an antique shop in Tennessee during our Cooper Family Reunion just a few months before Caleb was born.




Thanks to Uncle Grant and Aunt Stacie for hauling it all the way to Gainesville for us we were able to get them and everyone else home safely. Now the rocker is no longer avocado green but a beautiful teal blue.



I truly believe that my Mom can do anything! This was the best Christmas present ever!

Thank you. We all love it.

Baby Naomi Faith Cooper

On October 13th at about

AM

Alison Cooper delivered by C-section

(that is why she looks so glamorous)

My beautiful new niece Naomi Faith Cooper!

Her Daddy Todd was proud!

Her Ponka was surprised at how gorgeous

her dimple was!

Three Cooper Generations glad to be together for this joyous event!

Naomi's Big sisters Samantha and Bella weren't sure what to think but Grandma Doyle was in love.

Since Naomi's Mom and Dad would be busy in recovery and preparing for tests at school her big sisters came to Brandon to visit the Doyles and Grandma Cooper traveled down I-75 to visit Caleb's house

for the first time since he was born.
It was a special day for all!

Congratulations to Alison and Todd! We can't wait to meet her!

The 1st and Last of Our September Photos

In September we lost our camera and then found it again about a month later. We missed so many great photo opportunities. What a shame!




We did however, have a chance to capture a few photos just before loosing the camera at the Brandon Stake Mother Daughter Legacy Luau.






It was fun tagging along with Laura and Andrea as they filled out their genealogy charts.






I also enjoyed taking photos of some of the Moms and their daughters enjoying the various activities.






They had hula dance instruction






(which Caleb LOVED),






With cute Trash bag grass skirts






(Everyone really got into it!)






Legacy crafts






(making a frame for your mother daughter photo)





and then for lunch we were fed delicious Hawaiian Haystacks and a talk from a member of the Stake Presidency on Leaving Legacy's by following Christ. Each mother and daughter also had their photo taken and then printed for their craft frames to take with them as a memento from the day. My mom would appreciate the colorful Primary quilt that each female helped on by stitching by hand a small part and then each signing their name signifying their fingers work. All the mothers and daughters in attendance from our ward really enjoyed this activity. There were so many darling ideas that I just had to share!