8.25.2011

Flying Squirrels


No, Not this...
THIS...

Thursday August 18th, Sun Trust had a special on tickets to the Flying Squirrels game! We had a FUN time!
Brinley's Chewbocca Desese kicked in pretty fast... but calmed down after a while!
yay, sun trust. (last year we got baseball pens that hung around our neck... this year a paper fan... hard times we are living in folks... whatev's-- kids were happy with them.
Will- "I love Spaceball, Mom!"

Brinley fell asleep for a few innings...

but woke up in time for some $4.00 COTTON CANDY!!

Fun night!

8.24.2011

End of Summer ramdon FUN...

School starts in less than two weeks. We've been having a lot of fun doing all sorts of things! The beach, Baseball games, (I'll blog that tomorrow) school shopping, playing Wii, Dance parties... and listing to lots of music. One of my favorite moments that i forgot to blog about was on the Thursday before the kids and I went to PA to visit my family.

I had mentioned that...the Young Women in our ward hosted a babysitting night so parents could go have a night out! (genius!) what i left out was, when we were driving over to the ward building our back seat DJ (Caitlin) requested Justin Bieber with the windows rolled down... As we got closer to the ward building she said, "Hey quick, turn it up real loud!!!"

I'm only glad we were the first ones in the parking lot! She's so funny!

SO, on to more resent things...
The kids and i went to Kroger (super grocery store, to get a few ingredients for dinner) and they were being so good i told them they could get slurpees!) Well, they didn't exactly walk out of that store like i had planned, holding their cheep frozen treat...
they walked out with pillow pets and big smiles on their faces! 2 unicorns (or "Corns" as Brinley says...) and one puppy. Will actually wanted to get a purple hippo... but i made him take it back and get something manly!
I made this fabulous purchase at Goodwill the other day! J had the kids and walked in looking for picture frames for a project you'll see below... and i found this... Totally fun for someone for Christmas! They LOVE the "Granch" and it will be a fun addition to our Christmas decor. I remember when i was in high school working at CVS (late 90's), we sold these there... who knew some 13 years i would own one?? love it.
Brinley, more dress up....
I also did something special with Brinley's hair this week... it looked super cute!
the back...
finally finished my Sewing machine cover!! So Happy with the way it turned out!
Last Saturday I took some of my dried goods to the church, where they were having a Mylar packing party!! It was wonderful to get a few things "packed, sealed and saved" for another day!! These bags, when adding an oxygen packet and sealed with the right machine can double the life shelf of most foods, and keep nutrition value!! so great!
I packed 16-1 gallon bags worth of food...

-dried beans
-veggie soups
-quinoa
-pasta
-pancake mix
-wheat
-oats

***only thing i wish i had taken some chocolate and candy!! (next time!)***

Another great project I've been working on... Putting pictures of Temples in the kids rooms!

In April 2011 General Conference, President Monson gave a talk titled "The Holy Temple-- a Beacon to the World.

The message was strong and very moving to me, one part in particular:

"To you parents of young children, may I share with you some sage advice from President Spencer W. Kimball. Said he: “It would be a fine thing if … parents would have in every bedroom in their house a picture of the temple so [their children] from the time [they are] infant[s] could look at the picture every day [until] it becomes a part of [their lives]. When [they reach] the age that [they need] to make [the] very important decision [concerning going to the temple], it will have already been made.”

Our children sing in Primary:

I love to see the temple.
I’ll go inside someday.
I’ll cov’nant with my Father;
I’ll promise to obey.

I plead with you to teach your children of the temple’s importance.

The world can be a challenging and difficult place in which to live. We are often surrounded by that which would drag us down. As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified."

LOVE IT!!!

When we were in Utah this summer, I was at Deseret Book with Lindsey and Terese, and picked up a few pictures with this in mind! Then, last week I went to Goodwill to find some picture frames.

For Mr. William Adams
Mesa Arizona Temple:

For Miss Caitlin Rose
Salt Lake Temple
For Miss Brinley Jayne
Laie Hawaii Temple

Already, I've noticed that there is a warm spirit given by seeing these beautiful Temples in our home. For as Pres. Monson states,"Temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service."
It's so sweet (and brings a smile to my face) to have Brinley look at the Temple on her wall and say, 'Tempbol! At age 2, she already knows how special they are!

To read the full Conference Talk click HERE

Yesterday, we had a little friend join us for the day, while his mommy went to the D.C. Temple for a friends Own Endowment and Sealing! Grant-Man was so much fun, here he is enjoying Elmo's World!! He also experienced the Earthquake with us, but he and Brinley slept right through it!
milk mustache
Justin with his hard-earned SunTrust t-shirt. (Guess now it's time to look for another place to collect t-shirts from) har har
and finally, Caitlin sitting in the cat's basket...
Oh the fun we have!! what will tomorrow bring??

Zuppa Toscana

Olive Garden
  • 1 lb ground Italian sausage
  • 1½ tsp crushed red peppers
  • 1 large diced white onion
  • 4 Tbsp bacon pieces
  • 2 tsp garlic puree
  • 10 cups water
  • 10 cubes of chicken bouillon
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 3 large potatoes
  • ¼ of a bunch of Kale
  1. Sauté Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients.
  2. in the same pan, sauté bacon, onions and garlic over low-medium heat for approximately 15 mins. or until the onions are soft.
  3. Add chicken bouillon and water to the pot and heat until it starts to boil.
  4. Add the sliced potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour.
  5. Add the heavy cream and just cook until thoroughly heated.
  6. Stir in the sausage and the kale, let all heat through and serve.
Delicious!

8.22.2011

Lindt Truffle Cupcakes


I happened upon TheSistersCafe.com the other day... and instantly my mouth was watering! GREAT recipes that sisterhood has... let me tell you!!! but one i found that truly was calling my name... was this one! WHOA BABY!

I LOVE Lindt Truffles- they are pretty much the best chocolate treat ever, (My sister Emily knows so, and one year for Christmas she gave me a whole platter of them! I was in heaven!)

*sigh!*

So, seriously... what's better than Lindt Truffles?? If you would have asked me last week?? (...nothing...) this week...?? Lindt Truffles CUP CAKES of course!!! dive in my friends...

Lindt Truffle Chocolate Cupcakes

1 box devils food cake
1 box instant vanilla pudding (small box)
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup water
1 cup sour cream
Milk chocolate Lindor truffles by Lindt ~ approximately 24

Unwrap milk chocolate Lindt truffles and place in a bowl for use later. In a separate bowl, add all ingredients and mix well. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake at 350. After five minutes, lightly press a Lindt truffle into each partially baked cupcake. Let the cupcakes bake an additional 13 minutes (total of 18 minutes). Cool completely, then frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
8 ounces cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar

Cream butter and cream cheese together, then add vanilla. Slowly add powdered sugar.

Another delicious Lindt recipe found HERE

Spinach Orzo Salad

While we were in Utah this summer we got together for a family dinner, Justin's Aunt Judy made this salad... Whoa, i could not get enough... KAAABOOM flavor, light and so, so, so tasty! Try it at your next BBQ! quick, summer is coming to an end! :(


Recipe from: Justin's Aunt Judy

1 cup orzo pasta, cook according to package directions
1 bag of spinach (Use the amount of your choice)
1/3 cup of sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup diced cucumber
1/4 cup olives of your choice
2 tsp fresh chopped or 3/4 tsp dried oregano
3-4 oz. feta cheese

Dressing

1/2 tsp. chopped garlic
1 tsp. chopped shallots
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil

8.17.2011

Anniversary Dinner


two words: CHEESECAKE FACTORY!!!
lalala-so fun!
Luau SALAD
Grilled Chicken Tostada Salad
I can't remember what this was called, but it was delish! We ended up taking it home!
SO fun to go out and celebrate US and our marriage!
~La vita è bella!!~

Next year for our 10 YEAR anniversary, I'm hoping more for a view like this!!
How's that for subtle?

staycation-nation!

Originally, this past weekend we were planning on taking a trip to PA to visit my family. but as time went on after Justin had take Friday and Monday off, things kept popping up for our church callings on Saturday and Sunday, so we decided i would go for Enoch's birthday and Grammy's surgery and then we would have a (broken) two day family stay-cation! We have had a wonderful few days-

FRIday:
we took the fam to VA Beach! (yes even pepper!)

she was really good, but wanted to chase those silly seagulls... but she had to stay on her leash.








SUNday:
Will pushing Brinley in baby stroller


I made some Green and Pink Smoothies for the next day.... (Mmm!)

Brinley- having a little sipper of some diluted pink smoothie!

MONday:
POOL and Movie DAY

(breakfast and a little photo shoot...)



yay, pooooooooooooooooooooooool!














After the pool we were going to take the kids to the movies... but there were no kid movies playing (weird). so we rented "Mars Needs Moms" (strange but funny movie with a cute ending) and we made our own movie theater at home! We put up blankets and made it dark in the TV room and had snacks and popcorn for the mini's. Caitlin made everyone movie tickets too!
sleeping BEE-U-dy... aw!
What a wonderful Summer Family Stay-cation!
WE <3 our Family!