Pizza and the park

The last 2 wednesdays we have picked up costco pizza and taken it to the park we like to call the bunny park. Max gets out early on this day so it worked out perfectly. Today Larry joined us for lunch. The weather has been so hot and summer is just hanging on so we spent a few hours at the park trying to get energy out. Scout is all over the place and has been fussy as she is breaking some one year old molars in so a park and pizza is the perfect distraction. Max has gotten so big he eats 3 slices sometimes! I decided until the weather turns cold we will continue our wednesdays pizza and park days soaking up the sun.  This really is such a typical day for us park and food! Also we are so lucky at the moment that Larry works close to home because we can meet him for a quick lunch at least once a week! 

 

 

This picture is horrible but it describes this stage of life perfectly with Scout crawling up onto the table every chance she gets, I pull her off and not more then 2 minutes later she has climbed back up trying to get into everything and pouring all the drinks out! Bless my heart the next 2 years of toddlerhood with her are going to be hard!! 

Joy School & Cows

Today was the official start of Joy school. This year Noah will be doing joy school with 6 of his friends and then next year when he turns 4 will go to LMNO preschool! I am teaching the first 2 weeks then have 10 weeks off while he goes to the other houses. He did great and I am so excited to see him learn to take directions from other people and hopefully learn a thing or two! After school we picked up Max and went to lunch to celebrate. We hit chickfila because it is our favorite spot really and everyone eats and plays it's perfect. Larry joined us and Noah told him all about his first day of preschool. Big moments in our lives! I love hearing him speak he is very articulate and can express himself really well. It is neat to hear things from his point of view, he might be crazy and wiggly but he is getting SO much better at taking direction and obeying and is in time out less and less. 

These 2 are just the best buddies! I love their little budding relationship. They are both protective of each other and think of each other when one isn't at a place...like at the dentist if one is there they want to get an extra price from the box to bring to their brother. I love getting pictures of them when they are cute together. And this baby below is just the cutest little sweet thing ever. I could eat her up with that tiny pony tail. She is becoming a good little eater and loves all the blueberries that come in the fruit cups that the boys think are awful! Ha! 

 

Getting Real Over here...

So I went to the dr. on Thursday, just a post D&C check up to see how I am doing. I got on the stinking scale like they make you do at every appointment and low and behold I am 10 pounds more then I've ever been (except pregnancies) I had been feeling pretty bad about myself and also guilty for how much I gained during those first 3 months of pregnancy trying to push back the nausea I had suffered for so long. I've been feeling pretty bad about myself and this was just the cherry on top! I came home and quickly yelled at Larry why he hadn't told me I'd gotten so fat. He rolled his eyes at me and said I looked no different so it was just a hormonal thing. It's been pretty bad, not only did I loose a baby but I got fat and now have no baby to nurse it off or to show for my ever changing body. Also if I hear one more person is pregnant I feel like I might die! I better go to bed, or hit the gym. Let's hope I wake up happy and not fat or circle-y as I use to call it in college.

Yummy Food!

Hearty Garlic and Herb Alfredo Bake
Recipe By Our Best Bites

1 box Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Garlic and Herb Alfredo Variety
1 cup cooked, diced or shredded chicken breast
1 1/2 cups loosely packed fresh spinach, torn into small pieces
1 6 or 7 ounce jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and diced
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and sliced
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon butter

Prepare Macaroni and Cheese according to package directions.  Add chicken, spinach, artichoke hearts, and sun-dried tomatoes.  Stir over low heat until everything is combined and heated through.  Spoon mixture into a serving dish, or 6 individual ramekins.  Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan, and butter, and mix thoroughly. Sprinkle evenly on top of pasta and place under a broiler just until crumbs are golden and toasted.  Serves: 6.

Here is the finished product, nothing fancy to photograph but oh man this is some good food!! It is super easy and can be made in the morning then add the breadcrumbs before it goes into the oven. So good everyone eats it up here like crazy! 

Letherby's Ice Cream

John and David had been in town so before they left my dad wanted to take everyone out to ice cream. I think grandpa and Ellen and Jeff Clason were also in town so our huge clan went to Letherby's and the Foell's joined as well. Now Max has a great love for ice cream, I think he is 80% made up of it. He was so excited to get a table and to order his favorite blue ice cream. We didn't get Noah anything because he is a baby and would just eat a little of anything, actually by the end I had ordered him some milk! My dad loves ice cream sundays and Larry has a special bond with Letherby's. Growing up he rarely got to go out but sometimes their family would go to ice cream and they would go to the Letherby's that was close to their house in West Valley Utah. He doesn't have wonderful childhood memories but one good one is his trips there so it is always a treat when we go. 

 Love this one of him, he really dug right into Max's left overs. Those big brown eyes get me every
time.  He is getting so big 18 months in September!

 

This is so funny, you can see Max trying hard to say cheese to me but then screaming bloody murder because how dare he have to share with his baby brother! 3 year olds are so great. 

Glad we caught that face on camera. Only a mother could laugh through that because it is such a common occurrence. Babies and toddlers at their finest! Such a fun night with everyone. Love getting together with my family even though sometimes I feel like a traveling circus with these 2 littles. 

Lunch Date...Boys choice!

Boys choice of lunch date, where did you think we went? Mcdonald's with a big play place it is. It is funny getting shots of the kids because Max is so busy and moves everywhere and Noah will sit and smile because he is still learning to move he isn't as fast as Max yet. Love these boys of mine and they way I can tell Noah is saying cheese why he smiles. I look forward to years form now when a lunch date with them might mean eating at a little more classy of a place! 

 

Watermelon Love!

You know it is summer when the watermelon makes it's debut. Max loves himself some of it, can't you tell? He is a picky eater, but man when he likes something he goes full force. I let him eat it whenever and mainly outside because it gets pretty sticky and messy if its nice and juicy. 

 

Noah is just getting the hang of this eating with all those teeth but he is loving feeling like a big boy sitting at the little play table! He is so cute and looking more like a toddler everyday. The more big kid things he does the less baby he is to me. We do think though he is allergic to watermellon slightly because he was covered in big red welts later on his chest. I will still let him eat it as long as they don't bother him because it is hard to say no to something he likes and that face? right?!! Love him and look forward to our summer with him! 

 

Can you tell I've given up for the week??

Even as I type this I feel like I've given up for the week, can it just be the weekend? I know I know...the days are long but the years are short right? Well I'm feeling the long days today. Dinner is Cheetos eaten off the floor. Sometimes things seem so light and airy on here, like things are so wonderful and they really are. But the reality is that sometimes I fail at being a mom. The selfish side of me comes out and I am to tired to give it my all. I know really my kids don't care sweet Cheetos for dinner they say but if they only knew that sometimes I feel like a little part of me dies every time I give in and let the selfish side creep in. I always tell myself when Larry is done with law school, or when I have him at home to help me at night things will be better, easier. I don't know if that is true, the demands are still there if not more as these boys get bigger. But for now I'll call tonight a win,  because at least they are eating something right? and have diapers on! Good thing tomorow is always a new day and there is the weekend to have a husband around to help! Hurray for that! 

 

 

Also how sweet is Max, giving Noah that chip? Such loving brothers, maybe I am not doing such a bad job after all! ;) 

Deadly Cookies.

These cookies no doubt are the reason I have gained like 5 pounds in one day. I am sad to admit I ate 5 of these bad boys today. I am using the really good excuse of the fact that I am only going to be pregnant for a little longer and I work out everyday which I do but still there really is not a good excuse, BUT these cookies might be the exception!

Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodles

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups sugar (12.25 oz), divided
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 1/2 cups (12.5 oz) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt*
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter* (not margarine) at room temp
8 tablespoons vegetable shortening
2 large eggs
*if using salted butter, just omit table salt

Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon in shallow dish and set aside. Whisk flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt together in medium bowl.

Beat butter, shortening, and remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3-6 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping down bowl as needed.

Reduce speed of mixer to low and slowly add flour mixture until combined, about 30 seconds. Give dough final stir to ensure that no flour pockets remain.

Working with 2 tablespoons of dough at a time, roll into balls. Working in batches, roll dough balls in cinnamon sugar mixture to coat and set on prepared baking sheet spaced 2 inches apart.

Bake 1 sheet at a time until edges of cookies are set and just barely beginning to brown, but centers are still soft and puffy, about 10-12 minutes. The cookies should look raw between the cracks and seem underdone. Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature. Makes about 2 dozen 3-4 inch cookies.

Dinner Menu:

We have a busy busy week around here. What with finals being almost done, 2 play groups, a trip to the library for story time, tying baby quilts, getting things even more christmasy, some park going and maybe even the zoo to end the week. Tired? So am I an its only Monday! To keep me going and motivated we need some good food. Heres what we are eating this week:

Monday-Honey Lime Enchiladas

Tuesday-French Onion Sandwiches

Wednesday- Tacos

Thursday- Pasta

Friday- Grilled Pork Chops and Rice

I am always looking for new and fantastic things to make. Any fun ideas? Also I am baking up a storm for Larry to take treats to work. I love feeling busy and nothing makes me happier then a clean house, the fire going, and cooking in the kitchen with my su-chef Max, he's really such a helper..and he is getting really good at helping me unload the dishwasher. He hands me thinks one at a time, the bowl, the plate, a fork it takes about 20 minutes to unload when he is around.

Saturday Love.

This morning we woke up bright and early ready for the day. I have been sleeping extremely bad for a couple weeks now. My back is killing me so I am glad when morning comes and I can get up and move. This morning I got Larry up and Max and we went to the park. Everything was still damp so we wiped down the swings and slides and Max went wild. After about a chilly hour we packed Max up in the car and went to good old health McDonalds for breakfast. Max just loves those hash browns. It was are family date morning, we had a great time. We've been trying to really tighten our budget so we can get closer to our down payment so this was a big splurge for us! I didn't really want anything for Christmas but to do little things like this all month long and go out to eat a couple times so Larry is making it happen. The rest of the day Larry studied and was gone till late at night and Max and I played but for the morning we actually were together happy and worry free for awhile!

Also I made this PIE: Its delicious!!!

Grasshopper Pie

8 oz cream cheese, softened

8 oz tub Cool Whip

1 Oreo Crust (I buy premade but you can make your own if you prefer)

1/2 (of a 14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

16 Keebler Grasshopper Cookies

Green food coloring

Crush cookies in a large Ziploc bag. Some large chunks are fine, but you want mostly very

small, even crushed pieces.

In the bowl of a mixer, beat cream cheese on medium until smooth. Add sweetened

condensed milk and beat until combined. Mix in crushed cookies and fold in Cool Whip.

Add food coloring and fold in until desired color is achieved. Pour into pie shell and chill for

at least 4 hours.

Whats for dinner tonight:

So I cook about half the week and my mom does the other nights. We are always looking for new things to make because Larry in particular gets sick of things fast { I think its because he takes the leftover for lunch so its double dipping}. Anyways I really love the Our Best Bites cookbook and online website full of tons of fun recipes that I typically always have the ingredients for. This one has quickly become a family favorite. Seriously try this one out. I make an entire batch and it feeds 6 adults and one little Max.

Quick & Easy Noodle Stir-Fry
Recipe by Our Best Bites

Ingredients:

1 12-oz. package linguine (whole wheat or regular)
1-2 tablespoons canola or peanut oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Asian sweet red chili sauce (Thai Kitchen makes one that’s great and easy to find; this is not the chili sauce you find near the ketchup)
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 small red onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced or pressed
1 large or 2 small orange, red, and/or yellow bell peppers, seeded and sliced
1 cup fresh or frozen green sugar snap peas, snow peas, edamame, or green beans
1 medium zucchini, julienned or chopped
Optional: Grilled chicken, shrimp, or steak, black sesame seeds, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges

Directions:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When it is boiling, add the noodles and cook al dente. When the noodles are done, drain them and toss in 2-3 teaspoons of olive oil.

Whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, sweet chili sauce, and dark sesame oil. Set aside.

While the noodles are cooking, heat a large skillet over high heat. When the oil is hot, add the sliced onions, garlic, and ginger. Stir fry 1-2 minutes or until fragrant, but the garlic isn’t burning. Add the peas (or beans or edamame) and stir fry for about 30 seconds. Add the zucchini and peppers and stir fry for another 30 seconds or until the veggies are crisp-tender. Add the noodles and stir fry until the noodles are well-combined with the vegetables. Give the sauce a quick whisk and then drizzle it evenly over the noodles and stir fry the entire mixture for about 30-60 seconds or until everything is well-coated in the sauce. Serve immediately–if you want, you can garnish individual servings with chopped cilantro, lime wedges, and black sesame seeds. Serves 6-8.

We had a fabulous weekend...how about you?

We had a great weekend of doing a whole lot of nothing. Actually Max didn't leave the house the entire time, that lazy baby. We watched conference all weekend and it was really amazing. I don't know if that sounds dorky or lame but it was a spiritual boost that was greatly needed around here.

I especially was touched by Elder Cook's address to mothers and women of the church and Richard G. Scott's talk about his sweet wife and their relationship. I also really loved at the end of the last session when Jeffery R. Holland talked about president Monson. I loved just hanging out listening to amazing men and women talk and being with my max and Larry. Each time we have conference it strengthens my testimony and assures me that I know the church is true.

The sad thing about moving out of Utah and not having BYU channel means we have to hook up Larry's computer to our TV and watch it that way, making me miss my favorite parts of the entire weekend all the interesting things that the church puts on between the sessions. Luckily the world report was on and Mormon messages so we were able to see that. I love the world report it talks about the good things members our doing and I love seeing it all.

Here is whats for dinner tonight its a classic in our house.

Honey Mustard Chicken:

1/2 cup honey
3 tblsp spicy brown mustard
1 1/2 tblsp flour
1/2 cup chicken broth
2-4 chicken breasts

I cut the chicken breasts in half, salt & pepper them and brown the chicken on medium high heat. Once they are golden brown I pull them from the pan and set aside. In a bowl I wisk together the mustard, honey, four, and broth. Add to the skillet and bring to a boil. Once the sauce thickens add back the chicken and cover on low for about 10-15 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked. Serve over rice.

Is if Friday Yet?

Red/White Pasta

1 bottle Alfredo Sauce
1 can diced tomatoes (I get the Italian flavored ones)
2-4 chicken breasts cubed or cut into cubes or just strips whatever you want
3 cups of cooked pasta (I use penne)

Cook the chicken then add the Alfredo sauce and the diced tomatoes undrained. Add the cooked pasta and incorporate into the sauce then eat! Super easy.

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I am also thinking of making these for valentines day for friends in the ward. They look so good.

I am spray painting today things for Max's Room its a mixture of things room so I am trying to incorporate it all somehow.

I am ready for the weekend. Husband has been gone far to long this week and has been eating with us and then goes back to studying...seriously baby and I are going stir crazy.

Hope everyone has a great day enjoy the food.

Oh P.S...I got this to put on our wall...Don't you love?

Foodie

Here are 2 recipes I tried this week and got an applause and a nod to cooking it again.

Creamy Pesto Chicken & Bow Ties
2tbsp. butter
4 skinless boneless chicken breast cut into cubes
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup pesto sauce
1/2 cup of milk.
3 cups of bow tie pasta

Heat butter in pan then add chicken and cook until well browned. Then add the soup, pesto, milk and stir well till creamy and bubbling. Cook until chicken is cooked through then stir in the pasta.

Dijon Mustard Chicken

4 skinless boneless chicken breasts {I cut them into cubes because they cook faster}
1 can cream of celery soup
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard {I used brown spicy because that's what I had}
2/3 cup of water
Salt and pepper to taste-I thought it was bland so I added a lot of pepper
4 cups of rice

Cook the chicken then add the soup, water, and mustard. Stir well until think and incorporated. Add the salt and pepper to taste and serve over white rice.

*These both were good and the pasta made great lunch leftovers the next day. I use a lot of chicken because its cheaper and we are always looking for new ways to cook it.*