Laura, The recipe is below! Susan, the next time I bake a batch I'll call ya! ;)

I got this recipe from the Holiday Grand Plan Listserve. It is from "Gramma Connie". Apparently it was posted a few years back and posted again recently.
Give it a try!

Cinnabon Rolls for Bread Machine
From: Connie
Yield: 12 large rolls

Dough:1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup water
1/2 of a 3.4 ounce package instant vanilla pudding
1cup milk1 egg, beaten
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups bread flour
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast

Place ingredients in bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select Dough setting and start machine. Keep a close eye on the process, helping to incorporate all ingredients, if necessary.
Once the cycle is complete, remove dough and on a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to approximately a 17 X 10-inch rectangle.

Filling:
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, softened

Combine the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon, mixing well. Spread softened butter over rolled out dough. Roll, as for jelly roll, pinching edges closed when completely rolled.Slice rolled dough into 1-inch slices. Place into three 9-inch greased baking pans or a baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled.
Bake at 350 * F (175 C) for 15 or 20 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Do not over bake.

Frosting:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 Tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients until smooth. Spread over warm rolls.

Tracy, These buns are for you!

Drooling yet? Several weeks ago I emailed an old friend, Tracy (and I'm not saying she's old) to wish her a happy birthday. I promised her a phone call and so far I've still not made good on that offer. Life just keeps bumping my to do list...
Well, a few weeks ago I cleaned out my cupboards and came across a few packets of yeast. I used one packet to make pizza dough. I don't quite have the hang of how thin to roll pizza dough, but my family is willing to work with my not-so-perfect pizzas.
After the kids went to bed I used the other packet of yeast to make cinnamon rolls. Into the wee hours of the night my bread maker made this fabulous dough. Then I rolled out and filled the dough and set them aside to "double in size" I baked these incredible rolls and while they were still warm, topped them with a cream cheese icing.
Boy, were they good. Good really is an understatement. They were delectable.
Now, you're wondering what Tracy and cinnamon rolls have to do with each other. So, I'll tell you. When Tracy and I were kids, like so many little girls, we would spend the night at each other's house. We actually lived a distance away (but went to the same school... go figure) so we would stay the whole weekend. (We had fun from the bus ride over on Friday night through church In Town on Sunday morning.) We always had a blast (and I loved her family) doing all sorts of stuff. When I was at her house (in the middle of an orange grove) our traditional Friday night supper was hamburgers (1.5 for me) and Saturday morning we would eat warm cinnamon rolls and chocolate milk for breakfast. Just the kind of fortifying food we would need to play Barbies All Day!
So, Tracy, I will eventually get to calling you, but until I do, These Buns are For You!

Mommy's Little Helper

Have you heard that Rolling Stones' song about Mother's Little Helper? You're not sure how she does it and then you find out she's doing it all with the assistance of illegal street drugs.

Well, things are busy here and I'll let you in on my Secret Little Helper. Clifford. Yup, the Big Red Dog. Totally.

I go to bed way too late and get up way too early. Clifford gets me through.

I pick up the children from school and then we come home and I say, "Hey, Let's watch a little Clifford." READ: Hey, kids, let's all sit on the couch while the tv goes on with that PBS show about the enormous dog and I will take a nap.

SHHHHH!

My first week of teaching was wonderful! I have a terrific class, but boy, am I whipped! I took a huge nap when I came home because I was sooo warn out.

I've been so busy that I've hardly had a chance to update my blog, but I've been wanting to post about this "funny" that happened on Wednesday.

S and I had gone to McDonald's with some other teachers from my school. We all enjoyed lunch together and the kids loved playing while the grown-ups chatted.

As S and I were leaving to pick up my other boys from their school I said to s, "No, you know A and D are going to be unhappy that they missed McDonald's. We'd better destroy the evidence."
S replied, "Yeah... and we'd better get rid of this cup!"

More photos for the Snappin' Summertime Challenge

ScrappyDea announced that she is extending the Snappin' Summertime Challenge for one more day. Yippee! Here are a few more photos! This has been so much fun. I can't wait to see the Autumn Challenge! And whew, what will I be able to do with three months to gather 65 photos? :)
Find more fun at her website, http://snappinsummertime.blogspot.com/


1. airplane


3. ant
5. baby
20. family pet
29. hotdog
32. ladybug
35. messy hair

Snappin' Summertime Challenge

Earlier today I wandered over to http://snappinsummertime.blogspot.com/ and discovered that ScrappyDea is hosting a challenge. For every photo posted for the 65 summer words, she will give an entry for some scrapbooking goodies. Hmmm. A pictorial of my summer and a chance to win a prize. Here are my pics after my computer ate them... twice.
Thanks for the fun, ScrappyDea.

4. aunt

6. bare feet

7. bathing suit
9. beach towel

10. blue
14. clouds

19. devil

22. fire

25. grandparent

26. grass

30. house33. laughing

34. marshmallows

37. orange

38. party

39.pink

40. pool

41. race

44. red

45. refreshing drink

48. sand
49. shorts

50.splash

55.teasing

56.teenager

57.toddler

59.travel

60.tree

61.uncle

62.walking

63.waterfalls

64.yellow

65.youngster

First Day of School Pics

For my kinderbuddy, D, and my big 2nd grader, A, the First Day of School was almost 2 weeks ago. But, that was the day I had to report to work for Kindergarten at my school. My actual first day of school won't be until Tuesday, but I was so busy I didn't post about D and A's first day. Do, here are the pics...

D and his teacher, Mrs. R.

A and his teacher, Mrs. S. (Mrs. S. moved up to second grade. Now, how lucky are we?)

Marathon Mama Makes It!!

Hip Hip Hooray!!
At the end of July I joined up with Penguinsandladybugs over at Monthly Marathon to walk a marathon in the month of August. Well, as of Tuesday I had walked 14 miles. With only three days left I did the math. I needed to walk 12 miles in three days to meet my goal. 4 miles a day... Wowser! Let me just polish my fingernails on my shoulder... I did it!
(Yes, my butt, back, thighs, and shins hurt, but I DID IT!)
Wednesday night Diane and I walked 4 miles around her neighborhood. (2 miles were in the RAIN.) Then Thursday I walked one mile in the rain at home. I walked another three dry miles at Diane's house. Yesterday morning I walked 3 miles with Diane. And last night I walked my last mile right before putting the boys to bed.
Special thanks to my walking buddy, Diane. Without her hauling me around her neighborhood I would not of made my goal!
And thank you, Penguinsandladybugs for a terrific idea. Is September a "marathon month"?