January is my favorite month. Why?
- Because it's the only month that goes by at the speed I think months should. When I think "what day is it today?" and look at the calendar, it feels like it should be the 8th or the 20th or whatever. Whereas other months seem to rush by with more of a "WHAT? It's already the 15th!?" I'm left with a 'where did the month go?' feeling. And that seems to gain momentum and get worse as the year goes on.
- I think the word 'January' looks pretty. (weird, I know.)
- It SNOWS!!!!!!!!
It's been awhile since I last posted, or actually even got online - December is such a busy month!
But, I wanted to recommend this Christmas book, especially since today is the 'night before the night before Christmas.'
2-4 chicken breasts (boneless,skinless)
2 – 15 oz. cans black beans, undrained
2 – 14.5 oz. cans stewed tomatoes
2 – 14 oz. cans chicken broth
1 C. salsa (mild, medium, or hot; whatever you prefer)
1 – 4oz. can chopped green chilies
Combine all ingredients in a 5 qt. slow cooker. Cook on Low 4-6 hours. Just before serving, remove chicken and shred with 2 forks. Stir back into soup.
Serve with toppings:
tortilla chips
sour cream
grated Monterey jack cheese
lime wedges
cilantro
1/2 c. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. pumpkin
1 t. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
1 t. soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. nutmeg
2 t. cinnamon
1 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, pumpkin, and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in dry ingredients; flour, soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Add chocolate chips and drop by spoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes.
Easy Kids Cookies
1 chocolate cake mix
1/2 c. oil
1/4 c. water
1 egg
1 c. chocolate chips
Mix everything together. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet.
German Pancakes (Puff pancakes)
4 T. margarine
6 eggs
1 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
1 c. milk
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt margarine in 9x13 baking pan in preheating oven.
Beat eggs until foamy. Add flour, salt and milk; beat until smooth. Pour into melted margarine and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and serve while hot.
always seems to get me in the mood to bake and cook. Mmmmmm. . . .
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 c. margarine
1 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 T. milk
2 t. vanilla
1 3/4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. nutmeg
2 1/2 - 3 c. oats (quick or old fashioned)
1 1/2 c. chocolate chips
Cream margarine & sugars. Add eggs, milk and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix well. Stir in oats and chocolate chips. Mix well. Drop dough onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 9-10 minutes for a chewy cookie; 12-13 for a crisp cookie.
Makes about 45 cookies.
(Lex, these were taken with that free, sepia camera app I was telling you about.)
I got this "delish" recipe from my friend, Holly.
Pizza & Breadsticks
3 c. flour
1 T. (rounded) instant yeast
3 T. sugar
1 t. salt
1 c. warm water
2 t. vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Sift together flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Add water and oil; knead 5 minutes. Let dough sit 5-10 minutes; it will be easier to roll out. Roll out. Place in a greased pan or on pizza peel. Add toppings. Put pizza into oven (on preheated stone, if using). Bake 10-15 minutes.
Breadsticks: Put dough in 9x13 pan. Mix 1/4 c. melted butter, 1/2 t. garlic powder, 1/2 t. onion powder; spread over dough. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Cut with pizza cutter. Let raise 90 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees 8-10 minutes.
Did you know BYU has a Planetarium?
I just recently made this discovery when I went with Isabel on her field trip. It is so GREAT! Then I found out they do shows every Friday night. So for our next date, guess where Kevin and I went? Yup - the planetarium. We had tons o' fun. And the price can't be beat- $2.00!
It makes a fun family outing or a super inexpensive date night!
13 years ago, Kevin asked me to marry him and I happily and enthusiastically said "yes."
Here's a peek into our Engagement story:
Kevin came to pick me up around 6 that morning. We went out to breakfast and then drove up to the airport. He flew us out to Vancouver (well, actually the Portland airport, but anyway) and we spent the day visiting some of Kevin's old friends & neighbors, going to eat at the places he used to frequent, and sight seeing.
In case you're wondering - yes, I knew he was going to ask me. Not only because we had talked and prayed about marriage, but because our regular dates were never this elaborate! As soon as we got to the airport - I knew this was no ordinary date. No, this was "the day."
Later in the afternoon we drove to the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens. What a beautiful and romantic place. We had a bit of a hard time finding it (apparently very few people from the area even know it exists - they don't know what they're missing!). It's gorgeous there. We walked around for awhile and then went over by some waterfalls. And that is where my husband got down on his knee, told me how much he loved me and asked me to be his, for eternity.
I smile every time I think about that moment.
Afterwards, we drove around Portland, went to the Portland temple (whoa, we did not elope! My mother would kill me.), we went and bought some toothbrushes and headed back to the airport. We then spent the night, trying to sleep, in the airport - my first and hopefully last time ever doing that. We caught our EARLY morning flight home, then spent the day doing the "Show and Tell" to all our family.
13 years has gone by pretty fast. Choosing who to marry really is the most important decision you'll ever make.
I made a good decision.
It's ironic to me that when you've got a lot of fun and exciting things going on in life, you'd like to record them in your journal, or blog about them. BUT, you're so busy with those things that you have no time to sit and write.
Then, when not much is going on, you've got all the time in the world to blog or write in your journal.
Just somethin' I think about - often.
So, I'm playing "Catch Up." Here's a peek into what's been going on around here.
Here's a chance to see how well you really know your husband.
Cut, paste and fill in the answers, then check with your spouse, to see how right you are.
1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen?
I Said: a movie, or maybe House
He Said: most likely House. . . ummm, or a movie.
This past weekend Kevin and I went with Josh to a Writer's Workshop. It was awesome and so worth our Saturday and the $10 tuition. That even included lunch! We got to meet different authors and illustrators, have Q & A sessions, and watch different presentations.
This is the creature the class created while illustrator, Nathan Hale drew their suggestions. This was a fun, interactive workshop for the class. They named this thing - "Phunny Boo Curse." I love kids this age. Their humor cracks me up. 
Nathan Hale with "Phunny Boo Curse"Yeah, I know it was a week ago, but still. . .
Izzy sportin' her shamrock fingernails, green hair ribbons, shamrock cheeks, and green shirt. No pinching here!
Off to school! I finally convinced Josh to let me paint a shamrock on his cheek.
Not just the "sunset" but I mean actually see the sun set? It was beautiful!
It was so dusty outside that you could look at the sun and watch it move behind the mountains without hurting your eyes. It was amazing! (So there's one positive thing about it being so windy and dirty outside.)
It almost looks like the moon, doesn't it?
Yesterday Ben and I were reading a book together and there was a picture of a camel. It was a lift-the-flap book and I would pause and let Ben say the animal's name.
Ben said, "Canimal."
Me: "Yeah, a Camel"
Ben: [pause] "Oh, you're right Mom, cuz there's only 1 thing."
I was confused for a second and then bust up laughing. I can always count on Ben for a good laugh.
So Ben, what would a camel with 3 humps be called?
A Caninimal?
Really, what can I say? I am so lucky to be married to Kevin. I'm really glad he chose me. Life is good.
I love our anniversary. I love reminiscing about the day we were married, and all the adventures we've had since that day. It's always a great day. Today was no different, and here are some of the highlights:
Isabel woke up around 6 a.m. to make us breakfast in bed. (How cute is that?) Last night she curiously asked me what time Dad woke up, and then slept out in the hall so I knew something was a brewin'! (later she told me she didn't want to wake David by opening her door so that's why she slept in the hall) This morning I woke up to Isabel standing beside my bed, holding a tray with bowls of instant oatmeal, buttered toast, glasses of milk, and. . . a fruit roll-up! She was beaming.
I love this girl.
Then, she set the tray down and sang us a song she made up for our anniversary.
How in the world can your day go wrong when it starts out like this?
Kevin came home for lunch and I made crepes with strawberries and whipped cream, (Mmmmmm, I love those things!) and a few with Nutella. We ate on our wedding china - it's a tradition we have. A fun addition to lunch was our drink, Orangina!!! I finally found some at Pirate O's (spelling?). If you've never had it, you need to try it sometime.
Kevin surprised me with a huge bouquet of pink roses. Ben actually opened the door for Kev and he told me, giggling, "Mom, Dad brought you TONS of flowers!" They're beautiful. I love getting flowers from Kevin.
Grandma came over to watch the kids while we went out to dinner. We went to Carrabba's and wow, we had such an enjoyable evening. I was pleasantly surprised. I haven't had that nice of a dinner out for a LONG time. Our food was fabulous - really, truly great. Just thinking about it makes me want to go back.
And of course, the company was superb! It couldn't get any better.
And neither could our life. Honestly. We have a great life. We are so blessed and have so much to be happy about. We have all the important things - people to love and those who love us.
