Why I LOVE Dessert

When you're stressed

you eat ice cream, chocolate and sweets.

You know why?

Because "stressed" spelled backwards

is "desserts".

 

Crazy Good

AAHHHHHHH! Life is CrAzY with 5 kids! Some days I wonder if I will even have time to breathe....but life is good, in fact it is great! Here are some of our newest triumphs:

Kaylee and Aaron have started school and they come home excited about the things that they are doing in their classes...Hooray for great teachers!

 Nathan has started preschool twice a week...Hooray for a much needed break for both of us.

Megan is sleeping through the night...Hooray for sleep!

 And she keeps getting cuter and chubbier by the second...Hooray for kissy cheeks.

Travis keeps me running with a few cuddles in between...Hooray for more energy to keep up with him!

Hooray for a crazy good life!

Family Summer Rec

This has been a pretty laid-back summer because of a new baby. We didn't want to plan a big vacation and getting out is pretty hard. Eric had a brilliant idea to spice up our boring summer. We created a Family Summer Rec. We sat down together as a family and decided on 12 activities that we want to do together as a family. Then every Tuesday we have done one of those activities. Most of them are things that are free or very inexpensive. Here are the things we have done:

• We made Family Summer Rec T-shirts to wear every Tuesday
• Bike ride
• Made an obstacle coarse
• Frisbee golf
• Kid wash
• Football ice cream
• A compass treasure hunt
• Wii game night (we rented a new game)
• Family service project
• Splash Pad and Park
• Family Soccer game
• Geocaching
• A final celebration/ goodbye to Summer party

It has been so fun to have something different to look forward to every Tuesday. I found that even on the days that I wasn't excited about the activity I still had a great time! I think that we will make this a yearly tradition.

Creamy Chicken Taquitos

I tried these last night and it was a keeper...definitely one that I will make again!

Creamy Chicken Taquitos

• 1 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese softened
• 1/3 cup salsa 
• 1 Tbsp lime juice
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 1 cup grated pepperjack or mexican blend cheese
• 10 flour tortillas

Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray. Combine everything except for the chicken and grated cheese. Once mixed well, add the chicken and cheese and combine well. Place about 1/4 cup chicken mixture on the lower third of the tortilla and roll tightly. Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Spray tops of taquitos with cooking spray so that they get more crispy. Bake 15 minutes at 425 or until crispy and golden brown.

Dip taquitos in salsa, sour cream, ranch dressing, guacamole, or whatever your heart desires.

Enjoy!

Cherish Your Role

"Do the best you can through these years, but whatever else you do, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones. Mothers, we acknowledge and esteem your faith in every footstep. Please know that it is worth it then, now, and forever."

-Jeffrey R. Holland

Make Your Own Butter

Are you as sick of hearing "Mom, what can I do?" as I am? Next time you hear those 5 annoying and unavoidable words here is a fun and yummy thing to do ...make your own butter:

Here's all that you need:

• a jar with a tight fitting lid (mason jars work great)
• whipping cream (if you let it sit out for a while to take the chill off you won't have to shake as long)
• salt

Here's what to do:

• Fill the mason jar about 1/2 full with the whipping cream
• add some salt to taste (about 1/2 to 1 tsp)
• Put the lid on tight so that the cream doesn't leak
• and shake for about 10 to 15 minutes

•  The cream will go through 3 stages while you are shaking. First it is all runny, then it thickens up into whip cream, and finally it separates into butter and buttermilk. When you hear a solid thunk, thunk, thunk as you shake you will know that the butter is done:
• Drain off the buttermilk (I saved mine and made delish buttermilk pancakes with it...recipe below).
• Enjoy your homemade butter...yum!

Buttermilk Pancakes

•  1 cup flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 egg
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 Tbsp melted butter

Mix dry ingredients then add egg, buttermilk, and melted butter. Stir until combined. Cook on sprayed griddle and serve with your homemade butter.

Enjoy!

Outside Movie Theater

Eric has turned our family movie nights into an outside neighborhood theater. He built this awesome screen that hangs from out deck -

It is so fun to sit outside in my backyard with family, friends, and popcorn to watch a flick. Aaron has even planned to have an outside movie for his birthday party...good times!

Here's how Eric made the screen:

• get a 10 x 15 foot white tarp
• create a frame out of pvc pipes that is slightly larger than the tarp with pvc going down the middle for added support. Eric also added legs to take some of the weight off of the deck and so that it could be free standing.

•  connect the tarp to the frame with bungee balls at each of the tarp's grommets

• attach the screen to the deck with eye bolts and carabiners   

And you could have an outdoor movie theater too! Have fun!