Life Hits Hard Sometimes!

Wow! It's been almost 3 months since I posted and all I can say is sometimes life feels like you've been hit by a truck and it takes awhile to pick yourself up & dust off. Doran is off again. Its a repeat of 2007. We had lots of prep work combined with lots already going on in our lives. I think I've managed to find some balance now.

I did the 5K in April-it was really discouraging as I crossed the finish line-I was 30 minutes slower than I thought I should have been. Then I realized that the clock was set to show the marathon time which started 30 minutes before my race. I actually beat my goal by 14 minutes. I'd post a picture, but Doran downloaded to his computer.

May was spent finishing homeschool-we hope to never need to do that again. It was a challenge juggling 3 kids being homeschooled-2 of which went part time to the Jr. High, 1 kindergartener, 1 Junior at the high school and the nursing baby. The kids want to have a bonfire and burn it all. We did accomplish our goals so we're happy.

We also have worked hard in the yard. As you can see, we've been growing some world class plants I think I'll enter in the state fair.


Seriously, we've planted the garden and even expanded it this year. We've had lawnmower challenges-the cord you pull has jammed, the dead man cable snapped, the wheel has flown off repeatedly. It seems it is finally fixed and we were doing a good job of at least maintaining our small front yard (thank goodness for a triangle lot)but the backyard just proved too much everytime we tried to mow it, we'd only get so far before the mower gave out. Last week some neighbor kids came over to play & went home to report "The Smith's yard is really cool to play in-they haven't mowed the backyard all year-and its higher than my knees!" Sunday, a neighbor talked with the kids to see if we had been able to get it mowed and I came home from carpool yesterday to find him and his son mowing our lawns. We are so grateful.

Draper Temple Open House

We recently got to go to the Draper Temple open house. Here is a video explaining why we build temples. When we were in the temple we were able to feel the spirit as a family. I whispered to Doran-we better enjoy this, this is probably the last time we'll have everyone in the temple together until Alexa is grown. I hope you enjoy the video.

Complete and Utter Failure!

So, I'm trying to expand my recipe repertoire and we all know there will be misses as well as hits with the fam. Last night was bad-abysmally BAD! I took only 1 bite and said-Hmmm, looks like a peanut butter & jelly night. I checked out Good Housekeeping's Dinner for a Dollar cookbook. It's cute, about 5X8 landscape style with pages that flip-1 recipe per page. We tried Auntie Lynette's Meat Loaf Surprise. Not only was it not tasty, it took FOREVER! You make the meatloaf and pat it out in a rectangle on wax paper, then add a layer of mashed potatoes, then spinach. Roll it up like a jelly roll. I don't know what went wrong but it was WRONG! We'll keep searching for a new March recipe.

February's Recipe-Skillet Lasagne

Simplicity seems to be my goal lately in cooking. With the goal in mind of minimizing dishes, I've been searching for more skillet recipes. They are fast, easy and have minimal clean up. Here is the skillet lasagne that the whole family seems to like. I love how quick and easy it is.


INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 jar (26 oz) tomato pasta sauce
1 cup water
5 uncooked lasagna noodles, broken into 2-inch pieces
1 container (12 oz) cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon dried parsley leaves
1 egg
2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend (8 oz) ( I use the bulk grated Mozarella from Costco)
DIRECTIONS
1.
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in pasta sauce, water and uncooked noodles. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; cook 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is almost tender.
2.
Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley and egg. Spread over partially cooked pasta mixture. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Cover; cook 10 to 15 minutes longer or until cottage cheese mixture is set and pasta is tender.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): In step 1, cover and cook 35 to 40 minutes.

Enjoy!

Busy, oh so busy!

Life here is speeding along faster than I like to think about. I've set several goals this year including one of working on all the partially completed projects I have. I have fabric I bought to make dresses for Tasha & Ana that will now have to be for Nicca & Alexa. One goal is to do at least 1 seam a day. The result so far has been many items mended and (drum roll please) 1 completed quilt! I made this bright quilt for Tasha-we recently finished her room (I am a drywall mud master now!) and painted one wall orange at her request. Here she is with her quilt. I certainly have a beautiful butterfly! Of course, as I finished tying the quilt last night, Nicca and Ronan both chimed in that they need quilts too. The fun never ends!

Caterpillar impression!

New Year Goal

I did it! I made a goal and now I'm making it public so I have to do it.
I am going to run a 5 K this year-April 18th to be precise. The Salt Lake Marathon has a 5 K race. Eli is going to run the half marathon-overachiever or young and insane-your call :) Anyone who wants to join great. The more the merrier or at least we can motivate each other and drag each other over the finish line.

Some sites I've found helpful to try to get ready.

Calorie Counts @ about.com-I have to lose some weight for these joints to survive

www.saltlakemarathon.com To register

Training sites:
http://running.about.com/od/racetraining/a/first5K.htm
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Christmas Lights

I finally wrangled the latest pics off of Doran's computer and here is everyone at the Christmas lights we go to each year. First is me & my honey Doran, then me & Nicca, Ronan & Alexandra. Ana is next to the peacock, Eli is kissing the snake and Tasha is by the wolf. It was sooo cold!

What's for dinner?

I hate making dinner-I think you all are in the same boat if you have been around long enough. I have made macaroni & cheese, tacos, hamburgers, etc. all too many times to count and dread the thought of what's for dinner tonight. I subscribed to the Pillsbury monthly cookbook for a year hoping to get new ideas, but I inevitably didn't plan the menu before I went to the store. When it was time to make something from a new recipe, I didn't have a necessary ingredient since I buy what I've used for years. Obviously it didn't work out too great. But this is a new year and I've made a goal of trying at least 1 new dish a month (ambitious I know, but I think this is really do-able). Success! 5 out of seven liked January's new dish. The others know how to make PB & J.
Skillet Nachos
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1/4 c diced dehydrated onion
1 can diced tomatoes in tomato juice
1 can red/kidney beans drained & rinsed
2 c. frozen corn
1/2 to 1 t. chili powder (To taste)
1 bag corn chips
Garnish with:
Grated cheese ( I like jack & cheddar)
Sour Cream
Salsa

Brown meat with onion. Add tomatoes, beans and corn and chili powder. Cook through (the tomato sauce in the tomatoes should thicken up). Serve over the chips and garnish to your personal taste. Takes 15-20 minutes to make. The corn provides a sweet contrast to the chili powder.

OK-so 6 kids has truly thrown me for a loop. My dear sister in law Anne asked when we were going to share pictures of our adorable new addition and my thought was-didn't I send those out? Apparently not-the pictures were buried on my desk, so until I can get to the post office and mail them, here they are-Alexa at 2 months-taken in July, just before our trip. Of course, kids grow and grow and grow, so its time to take her into the studio again and have more pictures taken. She is 8 months today and of course very advanced for her age-claps her hands, eats cheerios and is walking around the furniture-much to my dismay. I tell her to stay a baby just a little longer and she says-baba , dada and maamaa.