Valentine's Day

We decided a few years ago it was not worth the headache of trying to go out and fight the crowds, plus having to try and find a baby sitter, so we decided to make Valentine's Day a family holiday, and honestly I love it more this way.

The kids woke up to a fun new Valentine's shirt and a stuffed animal. (I searched everywhere for a shirt for Bubba and came up empty handed, thankfully he didn't care and really loved his red Lego Batman shirt)

They could not wait to get to school for parties and to exchange Valentine's. Samantha chose Monster High, Hunter Lego Ninjago, and Hannah Lalaloopsy.

Despite Pinterest's best effort at making me feel like a lame Mom, I stayed sane and stuck with the cheap store bought cards.

That night for dinner we had the best Chicken Alfredo, I even added some artichoke hearts and the kids didn't even notice, Samantha informed me it was her new second favorite meal.

Nothing will ever take the place of Salmon in that girl's heart.

We tried to save room because as soon as dinner was cleaned up we pulled out the chocolate fondue. We did this last year and had so much fun we decided to make it a tradition.

BEST. IDEA. EVER.

I hope your Valentine's day was as delicious as our was!!

Double Chocolate Pudding Cookies

I LOVE a happy accident, especially when it involves food.  I am not a huge chocolate chip cookie fan but Rob loves them, so whenever he wants them he makes them.  The other day I was reading through blogs and I found a recipe for Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookies from Chef in Training, I showed them to Rob and he wanted to make them.  The kids and I decided we would make them for a welcome home treat.  The only problem was I thought I had vanilla pudding but all I had was chocolate so I decided to see what would happen if I used chocolate pudding.

Magic happened that's what.

I also added in Coconut, so unless you are my sister who is allergic or my brother in law who grew up on an island and doesn't like the coconut here in the states, add it in it is DELISH!!

Double Chocolate Pudding Cookies

(adapted from HERE)

3/4 C Butter
3/4 C Brown Sugar
1/4 C Sugar
1 Small pkg Instant Chocolate Pudding (I used sugar free because I love it)
2 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Baking Soda
2 1/4 C Flour
1 Cup Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 C Milk Chocolate Chips
1 C Coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Stir together flour and baking soda in a bowl and set aside

In a large bowl cream together butter and sugars.  Add in pudding and beat until well blended.  Add in eggs and vanilla and mix well.  Slowly add in flour and mix until well incorporated.  Add in Chocolate chips and coconut.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Enjoy!!