December 2011 -- A Jam Packed Month

M at her Ballet Recital.  This is her first dance class she has taken and loves every minute of it.

With her Sugar and Spice Ballet Class

In May we bought a brand new Sonata and decided to hold onto our Neon for sentimental reasons.  Lighting is 14 years old and after 10 years we sold Lightning McQueen to a friend.  I bought this car a month after I came home from my mission (paying cash) and the first day that I owned her Chad drove her and did a Donut in the snow.  Now she is attending High School.  The kids cried saying goodbye commenting that Mater (our tan Odyssey) and Sally (our blue Sonata) were going to be sad not having Lightning around.

E at his Christmas program for Preschool.

E and M were very excited to visit with Santa Claus and Mrs . Claus at the dentist office.

They were even more excited to get Donuts and Chocolate Milk.

M started Gymnastics this year and loves it.  She now can do the splits.  She has come so far since June.  Her muscles are so strong and has amazing definition and her stomach is solid. 

M

Showing off some of her moves.

M - At her Jingle Jam for school.

Our Neighbor is in the Tabernacle Choir and gave us tickets to see the Christmas Concert.  We were so excited that M was 8 and able to go with us.

My friend from growing up blessed her baby girl and we were so glad we were living here to be apart of it.

Christmas Eve -  We were able to see all family from all sides and really had a wonderful day.  Thank goodness for no throwing up and emergency dentist visits for the kids like last Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve with my family.  With a new added tradition after our Mexican dinner of breaking a Pinata.

M - With Grandfather Brick and Nana

E's turn.

July 23rd - July 24th 2011

July 23rd - July 24th 2011 - Neighborhood Camp out at Payson Lakes

Myla enjoying the lake with friends.

Daddy and Ethan

Chad doing some male bonding.  They kept dunking each other and the water was "VERY COLD".

Ethan sword fighting with sticks.

Myla got so dirty.

Enjoying the fire.

July 15th, July 20th, July 21st 2011

July 15, 2011 -- Sydney and Myla showing off their Tea Set.

The girls practicing their splits.

July 20, 2011  -- Enjoying a few moments at Trafalga

July 21, 2011 -- Ross, Joanna and Mason came into town.  We meet them half way at a park and then took them around for some fun.  Here is Myla enjoying the water.

Mason, Ethan and Myla

Joanna and Lisa

After playing at the park and in the water we worked up an appetite.  So we had to head over to In-N-Out.  They had never been.

Then we went to Fat Cats for a little summer bowling.  Myla was in heaven.

Ethan was much better about taking turns bowling then he was a year and a half ago.  Though half way through he kept running back and forth with the arcades and his turn bowling.

Mason and Myla have been good friends since she was three.  They have a lot of fun memories together.

Here they are playing with the arcades after we were done bowling.

Recipe Goal for 2011

In January 2011 my goal for the year was to get to 30 recipes that we were rotating on a regular basis that my family loved by the end of December 2011.  We are now over half way through the year and it is time to see how we are coming along.

We have had other recipes in the mix but from our taste buds or the kids they have dropped off the list.

I would love if you have any family favorites that you share one or even two my way.

Our Recipes Below:

1.

Enchilada Soup   - By Brandi Lovell

* 2 (10 ¾ oz) - Cans of Cream of Chicken
* 2  - Small cans of Enchilada Sauce
* 1  - Small bag of frozen corn (used canned corn)
* Chicken cubed

Pre-cook chicken.  Throw all of the ingredients in a pan & cook until warm.
* Sprinkle cheese on top
* Add Sour Cream if you desire.
* Eat with chips & enjoy.
Serves 6
240 Calories per serving (not including chips, sour cream or cheese)

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2.

Chicken Roll-Ups  -  By Phyllis Meyer

* 1 can of 8 crescent rolls
* 2 (10.5 oz) Cans of Mushroom/ Celery / Chicken) any combo

* 1 cup Shredded Cheese
* 1 (12.5 oz) can of Canned Chicken
* Milk - Use 1 can of empty soup and fill to top.

Use ungreased 9 x 13 glass dishes.
Mix in bowl -
2 cans of soups
1 can of milk
Place small portion to cover bottom of 9 x 13 dishes.  Then set aside.
Take crescent rolls and spread out in triangles.
Place a handful of chicken and cheese then seal up (by pushing sides together).
Place rolled up Chicken Roll - Ups in 9 x 13 dish place remaining amount of Soup/Milk mixture over crescents making sure get covered w/ mixture ( might need to use a spoon)
Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Makes 8 Chicken Roll- Ups
330 calories per serving

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3.

Taco Soup -   By Mary Ann Schwartz

* 1 lb. hamburger ( I use ground turkey), browned & drained
* 1 onion, chopped & browned with meat
* 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
* 1 (14 ½ oz) can cut-up tomatoes, undrained
* 1 (15 ¼ oz) can whole kernel corn, undrained
* 1 (15 ¼ oz) can kidney beans, undrained
* 1 pkg. taco seasoning
* 1 pkg. Fritos
* Cheese
* Sour Cream

161 calories
Put first 7 ingredients into a large saucepan and simmer for 20 minutes.  
You will probably want to add 1 to 2 cups water so that it will have a “soup” consistency.
To serve, put soup in bowl; sprinkle cheese and Fritos on top of soup and add a dab of sour cream.
This is one of those recipes that may look a little weird on paper, but it is a real favorite with everyone who has tried it... and it’s quick and easy.

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4.

Tater Tot Casserole   - By Shawna Meyer

* 1 Onion Sauted
* 3 - 4 Celery Stalks - cup up  (Saute longer then onion)
* Cook - 1 lb hamburger (Used turkey)
* 1 (10 ¾ oz) Cream of Mushroom Soup
* Put Tater Tots on bottom of 9 x 13 pan (I used 90 tots)
* Shredded Cheese (I used 4 oz.)

Mix Meat, 1 Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup, Onion & Celery.
Spread over Tater Tots, Sprinkle Cheese on top.
* Pour 1 (12 oz) Can of Evaporated Milk over all

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes
8 Servings
337 calories per Serving

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5.

No-Peak Chicken  -   By Kayce Johnson (had to revise from internet but this is where I originally got the recipe.)
1445 for whole pan,   361 calories per ¼ of pan

* 4-6 Chicken Breasts (I use boneless/ skinless)
* 2 cups Instant Rice

* 1 can Milk * 1 Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup

* 1 Can of Cream of Celery Soup  
* 1 Package Lipton Dry Onion Soup Mix 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix rice, soup and milk in 13 x 9 inch cake pan. Place chicken breasts on top of mixture. Next sprinkle Lipton onion soup mix over chicken and rice. Cover pan with tin foil; then place in oven and "no peeking" for 45 minutes. Suggestion: For moister rice add more milk.

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6.
Chicken Divan - By Michelle Buechner

* 4 large Chicken Breasts
Boil until cooked through. Cut into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
* 2 - 12 oz. Frozen Broccoli Bags
Cook in chicken water until just green.

In 9 x 13 pan layer chicken then broccoli.

Sauce (mix in separate bowl)
* 2 cans of Cream of Chicken Soup
* 2 cups of Cheddar Cheese
* 1 tsp. Curry Powder
* 3/4 cup Milk
* 1/2 cup Mayonaise

Stir in bowl. Pour over Broccoli and Chicken. Top with unseasoned bread crumbs. (I have always left these out.) Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes covered in foil. Serve over rice.

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7.
Green Chili Enchiladas - By Mary Ann Schwartz

* 2 cups. Cooked cut of Chicken, appro.
* 1/2 cup Chopped Onion
* 1/2 cup Shredded Jack Cheese
* 1 dozen Corn Tortillas
* 1 (19-oz.) Can Green Chili Enchilada Sauce
* 1 (10.5 oz.) Can Cream of Chicken Soup

Mix together Enchilada Sauce and undiluted soup. Saute onion; add chicken and enough sauce to moisten. Soften tortillas in microwave and then put 1/12 of chicken mix and a little cheese in each tortilla roll up and put in 9 x 13 inch pan. Pour remaining sauce over top and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes until heated through.

184 calories per 1 out of 12 corn tortillas.

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8.
Grilled Fish - Made up By Lisa Meyer

1/2 - 1 pound of Fish. (Lately using stealhead trout)

Sprinkle Mrs. Dash table blend and Ground White Pepper on both sides.
(We don't have a BBQ grill. So I just use my George Foreman's grill on our deck outside. About two cycles does the trick for me.)

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9.
Spaghetti w/ Ground Turkey - By Lisa Meyer

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10.
Chicken Stuffing Casserole - By Lisa Meyer
Still in the middle of revising to adapt to our taste. Our tastes changed.

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11.
Oven- Baked Turkey Meatballs - By Sarah Anderson
Still planning on trying it out.

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12.
Sweet and Spicy Sloppy Joe's - By Keleen Cloward
Still planning on trying it out.

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13.
Taco Lasagna - By Jenny Breckerfield
Still planning on trying it out.

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14.
Chicken Cheddar Wraps - By Celeste Adams
Still planning on trying it out.

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15.
Chili Casserole - By Amanda Cook
Still planning on trying it out.

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16.
Sweet and Sour Chicken - By Julie Brockbank
Still planning on trying it out.

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17.
Chicken and Veggie Quesadillas - By Kendra Johnston
Still planning on trying it out.

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18.
One Dish Chicken and Rice Bake - By Linda Paulson
Still planning on trying it out.

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19.
Lil' Cheddar Meat Loaves - By Darci Dowdle
Still planning on trying it out.

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20.
Quick Taco Bake - Given By Darci Dowdle from Bisquick
Still planning on trying it out.

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21.
Frito Beef Skillet - By Darci Dowdle
Still planning on trying it out.

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22.
Hawaiian Haystacks - By Darci Dowdle
Still planning on trying it out.

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23.
Ritz Chicken - By Kristi Jensen
Can't find the exact recipe (it is in my head)

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24.
Chili - By Lori Stewart
Can't find the recipe... but I think I'll still waiting to receive it.

Summer

What a fun - filled busy summer we have had.  Here are some pictures of the summer only downloaded before the 4th of the July.   Enjoy the pictures and I'll post a snap shot at the end of our summer.

Now the sun is setting sooner and rising later and fall is soon approaching.

Swimming at the Pool

Carriage Rides with one of my BFF's from growing up.

My birthday dinner with my sisters

Going w/ Friends to the Discovery Gardens

Extended Family Reunion with all of Chad's Cousins and more Family Pictures.

A glimpse of the rest of the summer to come.  Also a 6 month goal and how I'm doing on my end of the year goal posted later today.

Pay it Forward - Demonstrated by a Complete Stranger

***A MUST READ***

So I've been meaning to go major grocery shopping for 2 1/2 weeks.  We have just being on the run so much.  My family has been in town all week.  The last few days were spent at our house.  We had dinner for them on Sunday night.  The main course was delicious.  The sides to the meal were odd.  Cut up carrots and cut up apples with Chicken Roll-Ups.  I made a yummy cake and attempted and then started over and succeeded in making Peanut Butter Frosting from scratch.  The next day I made Grilled Cheese sandwiches and Eggs though I had just a morsel of ketchup.  When I made Tater Tots for the kids to eat I had no ketchup.  I asked my neighbor to borrow some from them.   When my parents left and Chad came home I headed off to the grocery store.

I went to the store.  So embarrassed that this was my second time in a year asking to borrow some ketchup.  When I went to the store I determined that I was going to buy all the items in the store that we use on a regular basis.  Some 3 of each, others 5, and things like ketchup I probably picked up 10.  It was during this time that I realized I should have gotten a bigger cart.  I went to grab another cart and instead of moving all the items I just took the empty cart back to where I left off and kept loading it up.  By time I finished it was past 9 p.m.  The lines were long.  I picked one and stuck too it.

I start to load my groceries up and see this man with not very many items in his cart gets in the line right behind me.  Here is how the conversation plays out to my recollection.

Me:  Oh... you don't want to get behind me.  You will be better off in a shorter line.
Stranger:  I'll take my chances.  So what is the story behind all of this?
Me:  Oh...  I just have not been grocery shopping for 3 weeks.  I should have gone 3 weeks ago.
Stranger:  How many kids do you have?
Me:  Just two.  

Stranger: (Chuckles)  

Me:  I'm not getting all the same items.  A lot of non perishables with some normal produce.  I made the kids dinner and realized I was out of ketchup.  I had to ask my neighbor to borrow ketchup.  I was so embarrassed.  I guess that is why it is encouraged to do food storage.
Stranger:  Ya, that is true.
Me:  So I just went up and down every isle and picked up all the items we use on a normal basis.  2 of this, 4 of that and when I got to ketchup I picked up 10.
Stranger: (chuckles)
Me:  It's okay... really... you can get in the other line.  It won't hurt my feelings... I promise.  I do it all the time.
Stranger: (Inches forward) Well now it is a game to see if we can beat them.  (As he looks up to see how much my groceries were costing.)
Me: (laughing)
Stranger: I'll make you a deal.  You beat them out. (pointing to the other line) I will pay for all your groceries.
Me: (Still laughing I didn't hear exactly what he said)  What did you just say?
Stranger:  You beat them and I will pay for all of your groceries.  Do we have a deal?
Me:  No...
Stranger:  Come on it's an easy deal?  You are going to win anyway.
Me:  (Still laughing)  Sure... I'll take your deal.
(Last 5 items get scanned and I pull out my card to pay)
Stranger:  I'm a man of my word.  I made a deal.   (He pulls out his card.)  See how easy this was.  (I slide over as he comes closer and he slides his card on the reader).
Me:  I can't believe I just slid over for you to pay.
Stranger:  I'm a man of my word.  You have a wonderful evening and Pay it forward.
Me:  I will.  I'm a firm believer in that.  I can't believe you just did that and I let you.
Stranger:  Have a great night. (Shaking hands.)
Me:  Thank You.
Stranger:  No, thank you.

I walked away completely in awe.  The guy bagging the groceries asks if I would like help out and I decline.  I walk away to my car in complete awe.  Pushing one cart and pulling another.  Shocked, overcome, humbled, blessed.  I put all the groceries inside my car and as I'm putting the last few in he comes out he is on his cell phone and I thank him again.  I finish up and put my carts away.  I see him loading his groceries up and some things on the floor.  I walk over and pick up those items and as he sees me he tells the person on the phone to hold on for just a moment.

Me:  Really... Thank You!
Stranger:  Now we do that sometimes, just for fun.  Your welcome.  I'll I ask is that you pay it forward.
Me:  I will.
Stranger:  Someday you will.
Me: I will do my best. (With tears now in my eyes)
Stranger:  You will.  Have a wonderful evening.
Me:  Again, thank you.
Stranger: Your welcome.

Last night.  I walked away with awe and amazement in my heart.  I was overcome with gratitude to the Lord.  This amazing act of paying it forward.  To be blessed so much by a complete stranger.

My grocery bill came to a total of $382 dollars.

This experience inspires and amazes me!