What a Weekend

This weekend was great! We enjoyed many things, but here are 3 of them!
A Texas Rose from Lonestar =Greasy Goodness

Emily taught me how to sew up some of these! They are my newest addiction! They look so cute in Mykelle's hair!
I made a batch of some grasshopper cookie rice krispies. They are sooo good.

I initially came up with this treat, when I was getting rid of girl scout cookies last year. And Guess what? It is girl scout cookie time again!

You make rice krispies as normal. Well, my normal rice krispies I add extra marshmallows. Like 2 cups extra. So they are soft and gooey. And you add ground up grasshopper cookies at the end when you are almost done mixing up the marshmallows. I also add a handful of marshmallows that weren't melted in. I will add a picture next time I make them, but they were all eaten before I could!

Our weekend was great!

Thai Coconut Soup

Emily, this is the recipe I went off of. I obviously don't measure anything, or go by a complete recipe a lot of times, but this is what I did differently.

As you know, I do not like any sort of seafood, so I DID NOT use the fish oil, or the shrimp. I sauteed chicken in a little bit of oil, and curry paste, and then added it to the soup. I also added baby corn.

I am also picky about mushrooms, and wished I would have sauteed them a little first.

I couldn't find red curry paste at the market, so I used just regular curry paste. I didn't use fresh ginger either. I used the spice.

The directions below are totally different then mine, but you saw how I did it in the crock pot. ( I added the coconut milk, milk ( I added less broth, and milk to make it creamier), broth, mushrooms, lemongrass stalks, ginger, curry paste, brown sugar,lime, cilantro,baby corn, and salt and pepper into a crock pot and let in simmer for a little over an hour) Next time I make it, I will saute the mushrooms with the chicken. Also, remove the lemongrass stalks before you eat.

It was DELICIOUS!

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
1 stalk lemon grass, minced
2 teaspoons red curry paste
4 cups chicken broth
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
3 (13.5 ounce) cans coconut milk
1/2 pound fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1 pound medium shrimp - peeled and deveined
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
salt to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions
1.Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir the ginger, lemongrass, and curry paste in the heated oil for 1 minute. Slowly pour the chicken broth over the mixture, stirring continually. Stir in the fish sauce and brown sugar; simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk and mushrooms; cook and stir until the mushrooms are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the shrimp; cook until no longer translucent about 5 minutes. Stir in the lime juice; season with salt; garnish with cilantro.

Serve over Rice

Mother Teresa

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. For you see, in the end it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway," -Mother Teresa

2 Things

ANY BODY ?? Help!

What kind of garments do you wear with jeans? I got some of the 3/4 silks, but my pants will not stay up for the life of me! I am wondering if the spandex, or the cotton are any better. Please Help.





Also, I am getting spider veins this pregnancy so bad! I always get them a little, but I feel like they are starting to get worse. Got any tips?

Thursday Confessional

I have a serious flaw.

It comes with my personality of always being Happy.

Sometimes I am so happy, that it is hard for me to deal with things that would make me less than that, and I just stay "comfortable".

Well, not with everything. Most things can't bring me down. I'm just meaning when it comes to my marriage.

I find myself not fighting hard enough for things that I want, and most importantly deserve. But that feels selfish sometimes.

This week it hasn't felt selfish (and it really never should), and I have felt.....not so happy on the inside.

Secrets

Did you guys read POSTSECRET this Sunday. They were interesting. They are coming to Salt Lake in April. Who wants to go??

Things I love

Just a few things I love, and want to create on my own, and with different fabric. Well, with some help from my friend Emily.

What a Family Wants

This is how we found our kids one morning beside our bed. Precious little stinkers that won't stay in their beds.

This week for our family night, we talked about what we wanted to do in the New Year. Together. For Ourselves, and I also asked the kids what they wanted from Seth and I.

These are what the kids wanted for themselves.

• Trey wants to learn how to swim and ride his bike!
• Mykelle wants to learn how to read even better!

As a family this is what they wanted us to keep doing, or begin doing. (Kids are so neat.)

• Go to the Mountains
• Go Camping
• Eat together
• Pray Together
• Read together
• Play together
• Have fun together
• Cook together
• Swim together
• Have movie theatres at home (Turn off the lights and have lots of blankets and pillows, and make popcorn)

What they wanted Seth and I to change were these two simple things. Things that to me mean so much coming from my kids. They are honest and true.

Mommy cleans too much, and should clean not so much.

(Lol. Because they wanted this to change, they have declared to help more too, and they have this week. Sometimes its more time consuming, but it is so important for us to teach our children how families should really work. I am not the type of mom that does everything for them. To me, that is not how families work! )

Daddy works too much!

(Simply stated. Since he just gave Farmers Insurance his notice to leave, and that he was going independent, this may be a little hard this year, but it is going to be SO GREAT for us in the long run, and the potential is even better! He is such a hard worker, and it is hard, because even though he is starting his own business over, and it takes time, and these our the years we will never get back from our children, and the years I know, myself personally, will miss the most!)

Another New Year

I posted Christmas Pictures, but it is posted a few days below. I'm not sure why.

Ailee I only posted this picture because you look so cute! Me, not so much!

I cannot believe it is 2010! This year flew by. It is sad to me though. My kids are growing so quickly!

So many great things happened this year though. Here are just a handful of things.

January- I had a really strong desire to start the year out great! I was ready for it. I needed it. Started out my resolutions GREAT, and you can read about them HERE. The year started out great, and I had a great attitude too!

February- Still had the same attitude, and fell in LOVE with Thai food. From then on, I decided I needed to be more open and try different foods.

March-Seth and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary. And 8th year together. I have fallen in love with him so much more than I ever thought possible this year.

Spent a long weekend in St. George with the family.

Spent the weekend in Wendover with friends, and went to Boyz to Men. It was so fun!

April-I started my calling in the Primary Presidency at Church as secretary, and was so unsure about working with ladies I didn't think were anything like me. Although, I think we are different in our own ways, I really have enjoyed my calling a lot, and getting to know the ladies I am in Primary with. Especially Stephanie, who I really didn't know before. She has this gentle, sweet, kind personality that I love.

May-We started remodeling, and my husband made our house look amazing.

We spent a week in Florida!

Mykelle turned 5!

June- I turned 25. Or 26. I'm not sure. It's 25. I love getting older. To me, it means getting wiser, and learning more about yourself. I will only say this until I start looking old. Then I might not like it.

I stopped babysitting my adopted daughters(Taylor and Brilyn), and was a little sad, although we still spent so much time together.

July- Girls Weekend with the BF's. It was one of the best weekends of the year!

I got my Temple recommend, and started going to the Temple weekly!

August- We found out we were having baby number 3, and I was so excited I jumped up and down in the bathroom before telling Seth.

September- Backpacked Havasupai. That was a hard 10 miles, but it was an awesome experience, and a really good time!

Trey turned 3!

Naomi left to Belize for her mission.

October-Vowed to have family night every week!

First Doctors appointment, heard sweet baby's heart beat, and I started getting a little baby bump!

November-Seth turned 30, and we had a great, memorable birthday! ;)
Although I wanted to throw him a party, we might have to do that this year instead!

We were very thankful during Thanksgiving, for everything that we have, and being able to live in such a great country!

December-Took Temple classes with a lady in our ward that I love! We had the best classes, and she was so great!

We got to talk to Naomi on the phone at Christmas.

If you read my New Year Resolutions from 2009, some of them went great. Even better than I had wished for. Others were not so good.

For example, I read so many books. Here are some I can remember.
My goal was to read 10 more books. I started several books, but I can't get into some books I've realized. I mostly read love stories, drama and mysteries but like any good book that doesn't make me feel like I have to think too much. Ha Ha. I usually read at night, and at the gym, so I don't want to have to think, just unwind. I don't mind a book that helps you become a better you if it is an easy read.

1. "Secret Life of Bees" Sue Monk Kidd

2. "Irresistible" by Susan Mallory

3. "Sizzling" by Susan Mallory

4. "The Last Lecture" Randy Pausch

5. " How to get the Love you want" by Harville Hendrix, Ph. D.

6. " The Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards

7. "My Sister's Keeper" Jodi Picolt

8. "The Voice of Knowledge" Don Miguel Ruiz

9."90 minutes in Heaven" Don Piper

10. " Twilight" Stephanie Meyer

11. "New Moon" Stephanie Meyer

12. "Promise not to tell"

13. "Dear John" Nicholas Sparks

On the other hand, I didn't finish the Book of Mormon, but will continue that goal this year.

I don't have a lot of goals I feel like setting this year. Like I have said in the past, I make changes in my life when I feel they are necessary. I do have some things I would like to continue, but mostly, I just want to keep becoming a better me, and keep growing and learning more about myself.

As far as the rest of my goals from last year go, I want to continue all of them, and add a few.
I didn't get around to doing any photo journaling, or scrap booking, but I will try again this year, and see what happens. I think I may join a monthly photo journaling/scrap booking group, but I may just make my own with friends. I don't really scrapbook anymore, but I do want to journal and put together my photo albums.

How funny is this picture? It reminds me of my grandparents old FHE book or something.

I want to continue having family night every week. I have consistently done this since October. I love it, and my family enjoys it so much. We are all so close, and it feels so good to dedicate one night to the 4 of us.

I want to continue reading books. No certain amount. I just want to keep doing it. It is great down time for me, and I watch less TV when I have a good book.
I also want to continue to cook more healthy for our family, and continue eating more healthy. I'm still not that good at it, but I have been really good at stocking up on fruits and veggies every Monday. I also keep fruit platters and veggie trays in the fridge, so we can just grab them and eat them. I do have to say my kids eat pretty healthy, and LOVE their fruits and veggies.
I plan on continuing to go to the Temple each week, but my goal is to go AT LEAST twice a month. I went back to the Temple this Tuesday, and it was pretty Awesome. I did initiatorys for the first time. I will for sure take advantage of living so close to all the Temples in Utah.

Thursday Confessional

New Year's Eve. Going out with Chris and Ailee. 6 months.

Sometimes I am afraid to say how happy I am, or how much I love my life, because I am afraid something bad will happen.

Back to Work

When I was googling images for a really bad paycheck post, this is a image I came across, and laughed. Really hard.

We didn't start out the New Year in the best way. Seth had one of his worst paychecks in the last 4 years. It was unexpected. We spent money on bunk beds, pottery barn bedding, and other Christmas stuff that would could have saved money on.

Nothing we can do now.

I am still so EXCITED for this year, and I swear I will go into detail on this, and post about Christmas.

Good Night.

Back to work tomorrow.

New Woman

So many people came and attended my Session, and I appreciate it so much. Here are just a handful of people that were still hanging around by the time I came back out of the Temple. Mostly family, and a few good friends. Sorry I didn't get more pictures of everyone.

Doing my Endowments at the temple was Amazing.

It was a very spiritual and unforgettable experience for me.

I really only burst out into tears twice. Okay, maybe four times.

1. Doing my initiatory.

2. In the chapel when I turned around and saw all my family and friends entering the room.

3. In the Celestial room when my mother in law started crying. She was so happy for me, but I knew why she was crying.

4. A Sister working at the temple whispered to me to keep being an example to my family, and they would be at the temple with me soon. She didn't even know my situation, but I felt the spirit so strong, and couldn't help but cry.

Honestly, I prayed this week that I would not be too emotional. It seems like a silly thing to pray about, but to me it was a big deal. I was so happy to be going through the temple, but I felt so sad on Monday thinking about my children, and Seth. I was wishing he would be there with me, and that I could be sealed to him and my children. I felt peaceful the rest of the week.

I really thought my experience was amazing, and although I cannot speak of what was the most spiritual and amazing to me, for those of you that are not LDS, it is not because it is a secret, it is because it is so sacred, that we cannot speak of the things that happen there outside of the Temple.

I do have more to say about garments. (& I am not judging anyone that has ever said anything about them, because I have made my own little jokes about garments too, or talked about how I didn't want to wear them) but I do want to say that I now understand their sacred meaning, and find it astonishing. I feel so privileged to be wearing them, and I hope everyone can remember how lucky we are to be wearing them.

I feel so lucky, and loved ( By my family and friends, and by our Heavenly Father)

I also want to Thank everyone so much for being so supportive of me, and all my desires. It truly means so much to me. Thank You.

I am a New Woman today!

Catching up on Christmas

Catching up on Christmas. Better late than never, right?
A few days before Christmas, we got together with Seth's family, and had dinner, and made Gingerbread Houses. Mykelle really had fun, although she looks like an angry elf in this picture! Cousins. They are such good buddies. It's so fun!
We gave the kids animal masks for Christmas. They are so cute. Here the kids are entertaining themselves while we were painting over Christmas break.

Traditional pictures of the kids with their gifts. They were so EXCITED Christmas morning.

I can't wait to post pictures of the kid's bedrooms. They are looking so cute. (With all the pillows and all. You will see what I mean when I post pictures)

As you can also see, I purchased Kasey Pottery Barn Bedding. I love it! Pottery Barn bedding is so worth it. They are so comfy too.

Trey's big present this year from Santa was his Train set. Along with about 50 trains. He played trains LITERALLY all day long Christmas day, and plays them all day still. It's so fun for him, and I'm so happy about that.

Mykelle's big present from Santa was her unicorn, and her horse set. She loves stuffed animals, and was so happy when she opened it. She got tons of little things that she loves. Including art supplies.

Trey was so happy when he opened Mykelle's present. ( Thomas Books, and candy)

So excited when they saw the bunk beds in their room. They both climbed straight to the top bunk!

First thing Kel did was dump out her stocking to find her treats, and make up! She loves her stocking every year. That is exactly how I was! I can't wait to have "Extra" money when we can actually spend a little more on each other. (Me and Seth)

Trey, all smiles when he saw all his trains! That was just some of them.

Santa built a track around the whole living room. It was so cool.

Santa left cute little notes this year, and will continue to leave them every year from now on. The kids love them!! I saved them for their journals. The letters talked about many good things about both of them, and things they should work extra hard on this year.

Mykelle's was being nice to her brother, and being a better listener when she is told to do something.

Trey's said he needed to talk nicer to others, and to make sure he doesn't "Pee a little" in his underwear. Ha Ha. This makes me laugh every time.

Leaving cookies, and eggnog for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer.

Smirky our "Family Elf" left PJ's under our tree while we were out on Christmas Eve. He also left Christmas Eve books. Smirky has been around since Mykelle was little.

Sharing a Giant Root Beer Float at Famous Daves on Christmas Eve. It was yummy!

Every Year, me and my BFs get together and do a Christmas party, and gift exchange. This year, Jessica invited her cousin Marissa, and her sister Angela. It was so much fun! We had tons of food, lots of fun, and lots of girl talk!

Here is a cute picture of the oldest girls. All within months apart. Our (Mindy, and Emily's) other kids are all within months apart too, and Mindy and I are both within a week of each other for our third babies as well. It's crazy, and so fun.

Getting ready to do our "Used Toy" gift exchange. The kids love this, and it is always a big hit! Kids don't even care, they are always new to them!


The ladies, and a few kids.

December Loves

Friends Christmas Party. December 23, 2009

*Don't mind the Boobage. I don't know what was going on this day. I was very voluptuous, and couldn't keep the girls under control. My 2 sister friends look great in this picture though. [And Jess, I hate taking pictures next to you with your extremely white perfect teeth. Mine look grayish yellow. Lame. I also am getting pregnant fat face. Oh well. It comes with the pregnant package right.]

I should be sleeping, but I am on a bad schedule. Seth and I had no kids last night for New Years, and I slept in until 11. It is now 1:30am, and I have to get up at 6:30am to go to the Temple. It's okay though. I can do okay for a few days on little sleep.

DECEMBER LOVES

• Chocolate Milk


• Home made Caramels


• HGTV


• ONE spot at Target


• Clinique perfectly real foundation [& all Clinique make up for that matter. I love their mascara. & their foundation brush. & their powder bronzer]


• Dulce De Leche Haggen Daaz Ice Cream


• Fat Free Strawberry Haggen Daaz Sherbet


• Lotion. All lotion. [But anything by Nivea is my favorite.]


• Home made Oreo truffles


• Salt and Vinegar chips


• Reading books in a hot bubble bath


• Hash Browns and Omelets that only I can make.


• Down East Outfitters Outlets


• These 2 blogs www.littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com www.creaturecomfortsblog.com


• The movie "Nights in Rodanthe"

Speaking of Movies, I watched a lot over the past two weeks.

"Nights in Rodanthe"- LOVED. I didn't read the book though, so I don't know how it compares. It was so good though, and I cried liked a baby. I'm such a sucker for a good romance.

"My Sister's Keeper"- Made me so angry. I did not like the characters [Minus the extremely hot dad, and the adorable son.] I cannot believe they changed the movie that much! The book was so much better! Needless to say though, Seth and I both cried, and held our kids for a long time after watching it. I also think I dislike Cameron Diaz after watching it. Maybe she isn't a good actress I don't know.

"Julie and Julia"- Actually pretty good, and I wanted to cook the whole time I was watching it.

"Hero of the Rails"- Yeah, its a Thomas the train movie. Trey watched it at least 10 times in the last two weeks while we were painting. It's cute though.

"17 Again"- Zac Efron is Hot.

Avatar- Sooooo good. I was a little nauseous watching it in 3D at first, but that wore off. It was a beautiful film. I liked it even more because it had a love story in it.

I also read 2 books. Well, almost two books. I'm still finishing up "Dear John" I got the book that has Channing Tatum on the cover because he is the one playing John in the movie.

Although, I think I am going to stop watching movies that were once books. They usually disappoint.

The other book I finished was the disturbing murder mystery that was soooo good. I finished that in 2 days once I got into it. It was called "Promise not to tell". I picked it up at Sam's Club a few months ago. I really liked it.

I better go lay on my pillow. Good Night.