Fun Friday- Vacation Edition

A quick recipe this morning to start off your weekend:

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Squares

2 18 oz. packages of refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough *
3 3oz. cream cheese
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Spray bottom of 9x13.
Press 1 tube of cookie dough evenly in bottom of pan.
Beat cream cheese, eggs and vanilla until smooth. Pour over cookie dough. Crumble remaining dough over top.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
Chill thoroughly before serving!

Enjoy!
Coming next week- A crock pot dessert!

* We normally make cookies using our milled whole wheat flour, but this is worth cheating on! ;)

And now a little fun-

WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO VACATION?

Several years ago our family decided to change how we did gifts at Christmas time. Through the years we felt we had let the gift giving get out of hand and had allowed our focus to be shifted in a direction we were not happy about. CP and I do not need more "Stuff" and the kids certainly do not need more toys.

Our solution- let's give memories and not so many things!

So as a family we decided that mom and dad would decide on a vacation destination to surprise the kids with on Christmas day. All the money otherwise spent on trinkets and baubles would now go towards this trip. (We also have a vacation fund we contribute to monthly.)  We encouraged Grandparents to cut back as well and bless us with money to go towards that trip. (The following Christmas we present to them a photo album of the fun we had as a thank you!) Some years have been one big trip, other multiple "mini" trips, but regardless we have created lots of memories, Christmas got refocused and the kids anticipate the big announcement as much as the few gifts we now give.

Some of our favorites...

Dad- Disneyworld

Mom- Creation Museum, Kentucky Horse Park and Air Museum at Wright Patterson Air Force Park

ALP- Deer Valley Ranch

RNP- Disneyworld

Legoman- Disneyworld

CJ- Disneyworld, of course!

We are always looking for new places and ideas!  Take a minute and share with us...where is your favorite place to vacation?