Monday, October 18, 2010

My favorite time of the day........

Dinner Time!!!

Here are a couple of yummy recipes. I got this one HERE. It is more like an alfredo dish than a lasagna- but Jon and I loved it just the same. I put a lil' bit ground sausage in mine tho.

Also a couple of years ago our ward put together a cookbook. One of the recipes (submitted by THIS girl) was Dinner in a Pumpkin. I like it cuz your family can eat just the mixture inside or scoop out some of the pumpkin to eat also. I usually get the little pumpkins that have the painted faces on them at Walmart, cuz they are the perfect size (and then scub off the painted faces cuz I don't know if the paint will burn- and I don't want them looking at me while I bake them.) But this year the little painted face pumpkins were almost twice as much as the unpainted large pumpkins. I chose to get a bigger on because of price and was laughing a the size as I put it in my cart.I had to double my recipe (everything but the hamb.)- but it wasn't tons like I thought it would be and filled it quite nicely.
Dinner in a Pumpkin
1 med. to small pumpkin
1 onion, chopped
2 T oil
1-2 lbs. hamb, browned and drained
2 T. soy sauce
2 T. brown sugar
1 (4 oz.) canned mushrooms (I always use fresh that are sauteed in butter)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups cooked rice
1 (8 oz can) water chestnuts, drained
Hollow out pumpkin and put on a cookie sheet. Mix all ingredients together and put in pumpkin. Replace lid and bake at 350 for an hour or more. Pumpkin should be soft. Great for Halloween and Thanksgiving.
(Note:- I also put some diced yellow bell peppers from the garden as we had tons. I liked what it added to the taste of the dinner).

Monday, October 11, 2010

Weekend Update.

Thurs night the 2 oldest kids and Jon and I went to Oklahoma. (The play, not the state) I LOVED the music as I have heard some of it growing up but never knew it was from that play. It was a nice night.

This weekend we prepared for and had a yard sale with our sweet neighbor. Both of us had big plans to spend all the money we were gonna make. Both of us spent most of it that night.


That night Carli and I went with these guys to see a Cinderella play put on by these guys. It was awesome and when it was over we went to Appleby's to spend more of our yard sale moula.


Late, late Sat. night Bridger was visited by the stomach flu fairy. It wasn't a nice visit. She isn't a nice fairy.


Sunday at church, the primary prepared for their annual primary program. I think (hope) it goes well next Sunday.
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Sunday for lunch all I wanted were onion rings (cuz I couldn't stop thinking about the yummy ones at Abbleby's the night before) We have tons of big, beautiful onions from our garden, so we made these for lunch. I am LOVING that recipe!

Sunday night, we all watched Apollo 13. I was thinking the kiddos would like this as the 2 oldest can handle serious movies now and they were fascinated that it was a true story.

Because the story took place in the 70's, everyone at NASA used slide rulers instead of calculators. It made me thankful for modern technology. Really, really thankful. I think the sliding ruler will stay with me the next 50 times that I post something on my blog!
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Now, recovering still from the weekend, we are tired and ready for a break. (But not wanting to get the tummy flu- we are not ready for that kind of break-lol)

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Boys Will Be Boys!

The other night we were all sitting on the couch, getting ready to read scriptures. I scooched on over by Carli. She said, "Mom, you smell like peaches." (I had just popped a peach candy ring into my mouth). Nolan said, "What? Mom smells like pee-juice???!" What a boy-thing to think. Good thing I have 3. (More future Pee-juice kind-of comments for me.)

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Our Family Pics 2010

It has been 2 years since this girl took our family pics, so we thought it was time again. I have had it in my mind for just about 2 years that I wanted to have them taken in an apple orchard ever since I first saw Nie Nie's beautiful family pics. Something about the sun and the eternal rows of trees that says, "We are a happy family." I liked that. Here are some of them.




Thanks for Working with us Sonja-

You did a Wonderful Job!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Gonna Miss it.

I desperately want to go to this. However, since I don't live in Utah- it is a little tough for me. You will have to go for me. (if you live in Utah, that is) I have been following her blog ever since the plane crash first happened. She has grown in my heart and I wish I could be half the woman that Nie Nie is! My kids know her as the "woman in the plane crash" that I always talk about. My daughter asked if I know her personally. I wish I did. Sometimes I feel as though I do through her blog. She amazes me.
If you haven't already, start laughing and crying with Stephanie at the

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Carli-isms

Carls cracks me up sometimes. She gets words mixed up like kids do. Sometimes it takes everything I have not to crack a smile- let alone belt out a laugh at her choice of words. Here are a few since I can't remember all.


Cherrio= Churro (her favorite warm treat at Costco)

Hamster= Hamper "Mom- My hamster is too full to carry upstairs"
French= France She confuses the country with the lang. "When you are in French..."



And my new favorite:


As we were sitting at Bridger's soccer game tonight, (Bridge in soccer is a whole other post) I told Carli that we were going to Mc D's for dinner tonight. Carli asked me what was the healthiest thing at Mc Ds. We talked about it and then she told me the reason she asked. She said that at school they learned about eating behaviors and obtuse children. It took me a minute. "Wait... Do you mean obese???"



Obtuse= Obese

She covered it up by saying that she had angles on her brain- but I hope she never stops her Carli-isms!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Propaganda.....Yet Again.

Dear Friends and Family- It is that time of the year again. The kids have come home with their school fundraisers. Every year the kids get a booklet that asks us to fill out 7 names of friends and family and addresses and give it back to the school. In turn, ads for magazines are sent to our friends and family. Although I am not a big fan of fundraisers, (I think they're crap) I feel bad when the school promises an item to the kids that return their booklets. School is hard enough without kids feeling bad for not getting a (somewhat popular) item that every other kid in the school gets. So I am a sucker for turning in these dumb booklets. Every year I feel bad for sending them out. If you receive one, please don't feel that you have to buy anything from them. (unless you just really, really, really want a magazine- :) The kids really just want the prize for turning in the booklets. Thanks for being awesome friends and family. (Please enjoy these cyber- flowers-lol)

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Anchor.

Can you fall in love with a song?

If you can, then I think I am in love with this one.

Nolan and I have a special relationship with it.

We get it stuck in our heads all day long.

We like the video too. (don't forget to push pause on my playlist to watch video)

Note to self: Next time I'm on a motorcycle, I will most definently wear butterfly wings- it just looks cooler that way.

I am (impatiently) waiting for my Mindy Gledhill cd to arrive in the mail.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Buzz and Woody

On wed, Jack and I had some to go shopping and get some things that the other kids needed to supplement their school wardrobe. While we were at Kohls, Jack spotted this Buzz outfit and pulled me across the store to check it out. He kept pointing and saying, "Buzz, Buzz!" When I saw it I immediately started laughing cuz it was so darling and I could see him doing all his Buzz moves while running around in it.

Upon further inspection, we realized that Woody also came with the set. He really wasn't as big on Woody as he is Buzz-(It's all about Buzz these days) but he seemed to be pleased holding both in the cart. They cost more than I would have liked to spend on Jammies for a boy that didn't really need any- but he has been treating them like costumes for 2 days. He wears Buzz for 10 mins and then Woody for 10 mins and then we have to help him back into Buzz! But really- who couldn't get a kick outta that face and those moves in that darling sleepwear?


Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Birthdays, School and Jack!

On sat, we finally celebrated Nolan's and Jack's birthdays. Nolan wanted a wii cake. I found an idea HERE to make a wii remote and am pleased with the way it turned out.


We had a low-key birthday. Even tho, my two oldest had already watched Despicable Me, Nolan wanted to see it again with his friends. We took 2 other boys to the theater with our family and laughed harder than I thought we would. Then we came back home for cake and ice cream.Then, school started on Monday. First it was Nolan off to Jr. High. He loved it the first day, hated the 2nd and was more at peace by the third. Only time will tell!Then Carli has a new bus-buddy as she went to fourth grade and Bridger started morning Kindergarten. They are both liking their classes so far. Monday night we went to a Chinese buffet (that our family likes)to celebrate the start of the school year. Carli eats 424 boiled shrimps and Nolan scarfs down just as many pot stickers. (Which look suspiciously like Costco's) But the fun part came when Jack's fortune cookie read, "Appearances are not what they seem" We though it was fitting for 'sweet' lil' Jack.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Bigger.


Bridger just lost his first tooth a couple of days ago. It's because he is 6 now and bigger. That's what he tells me all the time. I can't decide if I like the idea of my sweet baby with grown up teeth. The one next to it is loose too. As long as I get sweet little boy kisses and hugs when his adult teeth have all come in, then I guess I don't mind him gettin' bigger!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Today.

Today I have Yukon potatoes growing out of my ears.
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Today I realize that I need to live in an amusement park and not a house.
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Today I realize my house is too much like an amusement park, complete with screaming kids.
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Today I can't hide anything well enough from Jack. Especially the frozen cookie dough.
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Today I will never take for granted the taste of a fresh, seasoned tomato from the garden.
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Today I now know for sure that Jack is enemies with my milk glass collection.
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Today I wonder when I will be able to take a shower.
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Today I am wondering how many ways and how many nights we can have potatoes for dinner.
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Today I am glad that I have only four kids.
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Today I am wondering how I can send my first baby boy to Jr. High next week.
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Today I want the house to be self cleaning.
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Today I wish I could to make 2322 cafts and still have a clean house when I'm done.
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Today I want Jack the Stripper to be done refinishing my cabinent so I can start organinzing our games.
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Today I want to gobble down 3 bottles of Coke, 12 creme-filled cupcakes, and 6 bags of cheap candy and not have my scale notice anything different.
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Today I wish Jack still took naps.
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Today I am wishing summer would never end.
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Today I want next week when school starts to come faster.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Holy Yummy Food, Batman!

The other night, we made THESE. Oh man! The kids weren't big on the bananas in them, they just went for the wontons with nutella. (Fried chocolate- who wouldn't love that) We ate them with icecream and carmel sauce. The kids like powered sugar on them- I loved carmel drizzled on mine! I seriously couldn't make them fast enough!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Oh! We love you, Jack!

Jack be nimble

Jack be quick


Jack will ALWAYS

Get away with it!

Cuz the baby of the family ALWAYS does.

Especially if it is his birthday.
We don't stand a chance today.
Happy Birthday #3 Little Guy!
We LOVE You!
(Yes I had my 2 boys 1 day apart)
(Okay- You caught me- 1 Day and 8 years apart)

He Just Won't Listen!

(Yes, Those are overalls, Don't Judge me-lol)

Before he was born, I said, "Okay baby....you can come out now" He was born 4 days after he was due. He just won't listen.

As a Newborn, when I said, "Okay son, it says in this book, that I am supposed to feed you, burb you and lay you down to sleep." He fell asleep nursing only to wake up and then projectile vomit all over me. (Yeah that is one of the kiddos favs) He just won't listen! When he was one, he got into E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. After we asked him to stop, I think it actually got worse. He Just won't listen.

Eating breakfast in the dark, before the sun rose.

When he was two, I told him to sleep because mommy was tired from being pregnant with his sister and needed to sleep in. He always got up at 5:30 a.m. He just won't listen.
When he was three, he drove us crazy with vacuums. "I told him to stop climbing on our vacuum, it is not a ride" He broke it so many times, we had to buy an extended warranty for it. He just won't listen.

When he was four, I let him play outside with his sister and told him "not to do anything naughty" he taught his sister how to throw green tomatoes over our fence into our neighbors backyard at their dogs. (They weren't happy) He just won't listen.

When he was five, I told him that he was too young to start Kindergarten a couple of weeks after his birthday. He became so smart that we couldn't wait another year. He just won't listen.


When he was six, I told him to try to make it IN the toilet like we taught you (not on the sides and the floor) He just won't listen


When he was seven, I told him I was glad he liked tornadoes, but didn't like the idea of replaying Curious George's movie clip of a tornado in a slowglobe 351 times in one sitting.He just won't listen.When he was eight, we constantly reminded him that even though he didn't like the smell, he would be fine sitting next to his sister when chewing gum. He still hasn't gotten over that one. He just won't listen.

When he was nine, we told him that he was going to cubscout camp just like he did the year before. He fought us even though he always has fun and learns a lot. He just won't listen.

When he was ten, his grandparents told him to slow down when driving the four-wheeler and he smashed into their shed. (What? too soon to be comical?-lol) He just won't listen.



Today, he is eleven, I have been telling him for 11 years to do one (little) thing for me.














I beg all the time




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"Please Don't grow up"



He just won't listen.

Happy Birthday, Baby! You are turning into quite the young man!

P.S.- I used to sing you this song when you were a baby. The words were true and still are!