life as we know it...

There's nothing wrong with neglecting a blog when you have so much going on....right?

Chris has been a busy man these past weeks. He has been doing amazing in golf. In fact he has won the last 3 tournaments!! We have a huge belt buckle and trophies to prove. Right now he is playing in the Provo Open so here's to win number 4!

Aspen is growing like a....a....a tree :) We recently had her 9 month appointment and she now weights in at a whopping 4.5 lbs. She is in the 25% for her head, height, and weight. She has been the best little girl EVER!! I can honestly say she beats out all of the other little girls out there!! She is also on the move. She has one quick army crawl that would make any soldier happy. She is starting to move more on her hands and knees. I love this little girl and all her cuteness!

Noah is becoming quite the flirt when it comes to the ladies. He tells them all that he loves them. He's so funny. I am still in disbelief that he will be 4 in a few more weeks. He has insisted on a Spiderman themed cake this year. He also graduated his first year of Pre-School and can't wait to go back in August to see all of his friends. He spends most of his days outside. He has worked up a great tan.

I have been really busy re-spring cleaning our house. We recently tore out our tile and put in wood floors. I am still finding bits and pieces of tile everywhere. In cupboards, drawers, carpet, imbedded in the walls, and not to mention all the dust! Oh, but I LOVE the floors and can't wait to get my house back to being mine. I have also been doing small photo sessions here and there. Not sure if I will go back to doing it full time.

We love you all!! Thanks for bearing with our outdated blog for so long...

just call me Chef Moody....

Lately I have been working on my culinary skills and testing a few recipes out to add to our family cookbook. It has been so much fun trying new things all week long. Last week I made BBQ meatballs which were to die for! Then I ended up slacking off and we ate hamburgers and pizza.

Here are the latest and greatest, all coming from The Pioneer Woman of course.

Marlboro Man's Second Favorite Sandwich aka Lemon-Pepper Chicken with Bacon and Cheese

This was full of flavor, lemony flavor! Chris loved it! And if he loved it you know you picked a good one. Have you ever had peppered bacon? Oh man was it good. Bacon with a little kick. Noah didn't like the bacon so next time I will just do cheese on his. I also made a slight change by not serving it on a bun. I have come up with some ideas that might make this a little, and I mean the smallest amount, healthier and a tad bit less dish work.

Idea #1: Instead of cooking the bacon in a pan, I will do it in the oven. I am not sure that I would use the bacon fat to cook the chicken in either. This should cut down on the fat issue.

Idea #2 My next idea, and probably my fav, would be to cook the bacon in the oven and cook the chicken on the grill and add everything to it while on the grill.

Last night sounded like a pasta night. If you are wanting Olive Garden (since your neighbor didn't invite you the other night), this is perfection!! This recipe was soo easy. Maybe not as easy as the sandwich, but easy. The pasta that was used in this dish wasn't one that I have had.

So when I saw it, I had to try it!

Chicken with Mushrooms and Artichokes

Chris thought this was a winner too! So much that he had two huge plate full. As with the other recipe I tweaked this slightly. The recipe called for 8 whole chicken legs or thighs, both of which I never buy or have on hand. Because of this, and because she said I could, I used 8 chicken tenders. You could also use chicken breast too. I would only use 4 if using breast. At the end when you put the chicken back in, we cut it into pieces and then into the pan.

I also ended up buying green onions thinking it was the same as chives which come to find out, it's not. I used them anyways. I used 1 stock, I'm sure I could use more, and put it in when I put the garlic in.

Now I know some people don't cook with wine, which this recipe calls for. If you were to do this without the wine it wouldn't have the fantastic flavor. Just go and buy the cheapest white wine at your local liquor store.

At the end we poured it all over the pasta and tossed. Sooo good I want more!

If you are looking more for that Olive Garden flair, just call in for an order of breadsticks and salad and you will be set!

Enjoy all of this yummies! If you try and call me between the hours of 5 and 7, I will be in my test kitchen :)

Happy Eating!

comfort food success!!

for the most part.

I have decided to try a few new dishes to add

some zip to our nightly meals

On tonight's menu we featured

BBQ Meatballs with a side of Mashed Potatoes

(as shown below)

I was in comfort food heaven!!!

Thank you Pioneer Woman!

Not only does it look amazing and taste amazing but your house will

smell of this amazing goodness. I will defiantly be making this again!

And because I am so nice and would love for you to try this splendid meal

you can find it HERE

**Note: this meal contains black pepper as well as Tabasco sauce

and yet no measurement.

I used 1 1/2 tsp black pepper and about 1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce

Next item up for business is: comfort food not so successful

I have this little boy. And this little boy has become awfully

finicky about what he is putting into his tummy.

The food groups in this little guys life include:

bagels

fruit snacks

cheese and crackers

the occasional apple and banana

The food group that mommy would love for him to eat includes

anything that I make for dinner! That includes the image shown

above.

When did eating mashed potatoes and a meatball become such a battle?

Any suggestions towards my, HIS, issue would be greatly appreciated.

If they plant them I will come!!

Lately I have been in orchard heaven! Something about spring and the beautiful blossoms on the trees that just gets me in the mood to do a photo session or two :)

Today I didn't a spur of the moment session with a great friend. Mind you this never happens! I am a much needed planner, but in this case I was willing to put all planning aside. Plus we talked about it so I guess I kinda planned it in my mind.

I had mentioned doing pictures in an orchard, because I was in the orchardy mood, and wait till there were blossoms a bloomin'. Today was our lucky day! While Molly was driving to her sister-in-laws she came across this little orchard with big pink flowers. Yes, I was in heaven! We weren't planning on doing it until I realized that we were going to be getting that lovely wintery storm in tomorrow and for the rest of the week. So I had no choice but to call her up!

Miss Molly was, might I say, AMAZING!! She managed to get outfits for her and the three little ones and meet me at the orchard within 4 hours ready to go. WOW!!

So here to reward you for all of your amazingness is two of my favorite, so far, images from today. Luv Ya Molly!!

Lyme in the coconut...

This people don't have to worry much about, hopefully. There hasn't been any sort of study, as far as I know of, that show ticks enjoying a sip of coconut milk. So why am I talking about Lyme and coconuts? Well, mainly Lyme. Lyme Disease, that is.

Recently there has been an outbreak of Lyme Disease in Lehi. Yes, Lehi!! MY HOME!!

Am I freaking out? YES!!

Why should I be freaking out over something that lives in remote wooded areas? Because it's not just in these woody areas that these tiny ticks hide! They are hiding in your yard where your little ones play!

This is why I am freaking out!

Tonight I decided to do a little research so that I can keep my little guy safe while playing outside and this is what they have informed me to do.

* wear light-colored clothing to see the vectors, that word alone scares me, better and wear long sleeves and tuck your long pants into the top of your socks or boots.

* apply a DEET-based repellent, always following the directions on the label

* check for ticks often and remove with tweezers (not your fingers) by grabbing the head and pulling it out

* after being outdoors, remove clothing, toss in dryer set on "high", and remove clothes after 30 minutes. Washing does not always kill the ticks, but high heat has been found effective.

* take extra caution May through July

After reading this helpful information, I have come to the conclusion.

My poor son is going to DIE! May through July! He will have to become a hermit. And no more fun nature walks without the protective suits. Can ticks swim? I guess they can if washing your clothes does not always kill them. WE'RE DOMED!

I guess if we end up contracting it they do have a "Lymer's Game Of The Month Club".

Todays game is musical chairs played with recliners!

What to do...what to do?

Random Noah's

While Noah was playing with play-doh I decided to get working on the dishes. He kept coming over to grab random cookie cutters, which happened to be next to me in a box. One run to the cookie cutter box ended with a shower of watered down milk. I couldn't help but laugh because he kept on looking through the box without notice of the milky shower.

me: "sorry buddy momma just gottcha wet."

noah: "that's alright mom."

and then right back to the play-doh he went, after the quick wipe down of course.

Some days I wonder how I will make it. Then there are those days that he teaches me how to be a better mom. And today was one that he taught.

When it seems like your day is becoming a shower of watered down milk, just wipe up!

grassy greens

Do you ever wonder if you made a right decision in life? Or wish for things to be different at times.

i do.

Sometimes, especially when days are tough, I sit back and wonder what I have gotten myself into. I wonder what it would be like to be someone else. I'm sure I have traded places on numerous occasions with you! (hope you don't mind).

Someone once said,

"We tend to keep waiting for life to get better when, really, it just gets different. If the grass looks greener on the other side of your fence, it may be because you're not investing your time and energy in your own grass. Live in the present."

After reading this quote, it makes me want to rethink trading places. My grass isn't the greenest of greens. But it defiantly beats not having any at all.

Tonight I was doing my usual blog surfing when I came across a post by a friend that pretty much sums it up. It's a post that just scream's "ME" and possibly even you!

"The grass is always greener on the other side."

So they say. Whoever they are.

And sometimes it really seems that way.....doesn't it?? There are times in my life I have really believed it to be true.

But I am sloooowly learning as I grow older (and wiser, right?) that the grass is the greenest of greens, right beneath my very own feet. I just need to remind myself to look down.

Last month when Robby left for a week to Florida for work.....I was a bit on the bummed-out side, and feeling very woe-is-me. Yes he still had to work every day--but he was working in Florida! I've never been to Florida! He was eating out at fancy restaraunts, sleeping in a fancy bed, and HE HAD MAID SERVICE!!!

I was at home sweeping 100 times a day and doing the same old laundry and potty training routine....by myself. Where was my maid?

It's hard sometimes to be home all day. No fancy restaraunts. No one to pat you on the back. And all that sweeping.

unless, I look at it this way...

I get to be home.....all day! Do you know what that means? I get to make the plans....I am the boss! What we do. What we eat. Where we go.

Let's paint! Let's make bread! I get to hear the giggles, and be a part of their fun little world.

"Mommy you have to hurry and get out of here!! There are Storm Troopers coming!" I have absolutely no idea what that means, but was very excited that I was important enough to play along.

In between the sweeping, there will be a few hugs, I am sure of it. I get to play. Read books. Laugh....alot.

I get to experience the springing of spring through my two little one's eyes. Looking for buds. Listening to birds. Planting. Digging. Or just playing in the dirt....

Yesterday we went to the park. Enjoyed the sunshine. Swung the swings. Slid the slides. As my boy and my girl (who are getting so big) ran off across the grass, I looked down, and saw green.

s.j.