Outside Looking In

Yesterday was really warm- like 50 degrees, and sunny. It was so glorious that we went on a hike. I know, from the outside looking in this may sound crazy, but try telling that to the guy in short running shorts and a t-shirt out for a jog on a warm winters day. Seriously, slippers everywhere. It really was nice though.

From the outside looking in it may appear that we were hiking through a foot of snow, and that is accurate at times, but really it was pretty packed down and like walking on the coldest beach ever. Our poor snowman was melting away and starting to scare the kids so we had to take care of him. From the outside looking in the "grass" probably looks pretty nasty, and I suppose it kind of is, but for us it is a sight for sore eyes.

From the outside looking in Taj and Eden may look like the sweetest kids in the world, but... Just kidding- they really are angels.

Taj jumps up to "save" Eden when she whimpers or falls. He goes with me to get her out of her crib 99% of the time and with a voice only a sweet little boy can make says things like, "hey Little's" or "Morning Sunshine", and one of my favorites, "We love you!"

Things around here are looking pretty good.

Pun-ishment

I've been a fan of puns thanks to my Daddy's great sense of humor. I feel like he's trained me to appreciate the art of playing with words. That said, Micah and I aren't so sure about puns around here anymore. It's o.k. to make a few jokes with friends, but lately we've been seeing them everywhere and I think they are going too far. You be the judge:

• the rice pudding place in Provo called, "Pudding on the Rice". (putting on the ritz-get it?)
• another place in Provo called "Spoon Me." I believe it's a frozen yogurt place. Puh-lease.
• It's not just the food industry. There's a snowboarding shop called "Board of Provo".
• In the mall I have to look the other way when we pass the ties only store called, "Tie one on". Ugh.

There are a couple of billboards that are personal favorites:

• "We'll set your kids straight." An orthodontist place.
• A men's A Capella group called, "Voicemale".

Good Enough To Eat

Here are a couple of must have recipe's, in my kitchen anyway. Why is it that it's so easy for me to find great dessert recipe's, but can't track down a good, easy, crowd-pleasing dinner recipe?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles
- 8 squares of Baker's Semi Sweet Choc.
-1/2 C creamy peanut butter
-8 oz cool whip
-finely chopped nuts, coconut, crushed oreos, or any other topping of choice

Melt Choc. in micro stirring every 30 seconds until melted. Add peanut butter and let cool to room temp. Once it's at room temp FOLD in cool whip and put in fridge for 2 hours. After it's chilled roll them into small balls and roll in the toppings of your choice.
*store them in the fridge so they don't melt.

Mousse au chocolat

300 g chocolate (a little less than a full package of choc. chips- I recommend semi sweet)

3 large eggs

500 ml whip cream

Melt chocolate in a hot water bath (water boiling). Once choc melts, remove from heat. Beat eggs lightly, then stir them into the melted chocolate quickly so the eggs don't cook. Let it cool down. Whip the cream until cool whip texture, or just use a tub of cool whip (worked great for me). Fold all together and let it set in the fridge for the night.

* Got this recipe from a girl on exchange from Germany. I didn't read the recipe very thoroughly so instead of making it an hour before taking it to dinner I had to make something else. When I got home that night and made it I had used cool whip and the next day when it was ready it was amazing. We topped it with more cool whip and fresh black berries. I can't stop thinking about it. Yum.

Brazilian Chicken Cutlets with Raw Tropical Sauce

( this is the recipe I blogged about a while back)

-1 large ripe Mango chopped

-4 Plum Tomatoes seeded and chopped

-1/2 medium red onion, chopped

1/4 C cilantro, chopped

Juice of 1 lime

A few Dashes of hot sauce

Salt and pepper

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 C flour

2 eggs

1/2 C bread crumbs

1/2 C grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1 tsp granulated garlic

1 lemon, zested and cut in wedges

4 TBSP extra virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 250*F.

Prepare raw sauce by combing the mango, tomato, onion, cilantro, lime juice, hot sauce, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir gently to combine.

Flatten chicken into cutlets by butterflying each piece then pounding out to 1/4 inch thick.

Set up three shallow dishes on the counter. To one dish add flour, to second add eggs and beat with a little water, to the third add the bread crumbs, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, granulated garlic, and lemon zest.

Bread the cutlets by first tossing in flour, then in eggs, then in bread crumb mixture.

Heat 2 TBSP of olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Once oil is hot, cook the cutlets in batches until golden brown on each side and cooked through, 4-5 minutes per side, adding more oil as needed between batches. As each cutlet is golden brown and done, transfer it to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while the others cook.

Serve the cutlets with the raw sauce on top and lemon wedges to squeeze over the cutlets if desired. Enjoy!

Neither Here Nor There

I have been a horribly spotty blogger lately. I love to check blogs, but haven't been able to get myself to blog much. It could be the exhaustion of parenting, but that's nothing new. It could be the 7th season of "Gilmore Girls" Micah got me-he's the best. It could be all the computer time I do for the primary (I've been the ward primary secretary since Nov.-not just a Sunday calling). It might be that I've been slacking in the photo taking, and everyone knows that a blog without pictures is hardly a blog. Whatever the reason, here's a little of us from lately. We introduced shaving cream to the kids during bath time the other night. Eden thought it was weird, but Taj couldn't get enough.

I used to run down the hill and passed the High School to a duck pond with the kiddo's before the winter set in. I figured the path around it would be snowed over and the ducks would be further down south for the winter. I got talked into just checking it out by my three year old- so young, yet so persuasive :). We were very pleasantly surprised. There was a little opening in the frozen pond where ducks from even colder places were quacking around. The kids ran around it with me and quacked for bread like ducks. It was a great adventure. Good idea Taj!

A nearby mall has a carousel and Micah and I just remembered! The little ones loved it, and we loved the man/woman that was running the thing. Even though he/she had hairier arms and a lower voice than Micah, I still think that it was a woman. Micah and I will have to agree to disagree on this one.

From the picture you can tell what kinds of shenanigans Eden is getting into these days. She loves being in her diaper. All of a sudden she is obsessed with taking off her socks and shoes in public, but also loves to try to put on her brothers shoes and underwear while we're at home. I think she pulls off the look while saying "Cheese," for the camera. I can't get enough of this girl.

Frugal McCheapskate?

While watching "Unwrapped" on the food network- love the Food Network, but not so sure about "Unwrapped," , I was introduced to a website that claims to save bundles on groceries. I'll share: http://thegrocerygame.com

The Rundown: the web sight owner searches ads, promotions, and all other inside scoops on food deals at a few grocery store chains. She lists the current deals and has all the coupons ready for you to print. You just take the list, print the coup.s and buy what you want/need from the list-AND SAVE $$$. She has even figured out ways to get food for free. They showed the woman on a regular shopping trip at her local grocer and I watched her grocery total go from $2oo down to $33 dollars-not kidding you.

I thought it was interesting while watching the segment, but it didn't end after the show was over. I can't write anything on my grocery list without thinking about the show. I keep thinking of all the money I could be saving- groceries is the biggest monthly expenditure besides the mortgage after all. I keep thinking about the study on 20/20 I saw years ago interviewing several millionaires that shop at Walmart. The point was that the rich become rich by what they don't spend and by being frugal. On the flip side, the poor stay poor by spending more than is necessary on items like groceries. Which one do I want to be?

So I think I'll be signing up for the 4 week trial. I'll let you all know how it goes and how much I save (hopefully).

5 Days Later....

Micah got commissioned by my sister (an interior designer) to paint a mural for one of her clients. He started Monday and by lunch time on Friday we had this to show for it:

Pictures are never as good as seeing it in person, but WOW! I can't even wrap my mind around working on a project like this for five days. Where does one even start? I've really got to think of ways to use Micah's talent.

Inaugural Memories

I was very moved by the inauguration of President Obama. I didn't really expect to get into the election at all. This is the first inauguration I can remember watching and truth be told I even got teary eyed. I've never felt such pride and hope for our country. Micah says it's because I grew up in Hawaii where the only pride that's acceptable is Hawaiian Pride. Could have something to do with it, but either way I was bursting.

Later while the kids were napping and doing quiet time I turned on the boob tube for a little more of that inauguration high. The parade was starting and Pres. Obama threw a Shaka at the marching band from Punahou High School. The emotions came again. I'm a bit of an emotional eater I guess cuz I decided I needed some Inaugural cookies and went for these 7 layer cookies I had made the day before.They were pretty stuck to the pan so this is the knife I used to cut them and get the cookies out with.
The knife slipped up and 14 stitches later, I was back home recovering while watching the inaugural balls. The knife went in the bottom of my left pointer finger and out the top. Yuck.

I refuse to show you the stitches, sick-o's, but I will tell you how very lucky and grateful I am that 1. I still have my pointer finger. 2. The kids were not around until I was on my way to the doctors. 3. I somehow didn't sever any nerves or bone. 4. Nana and my brother in law Gabe came at the drop of a hat. All I had to say was that I cut my finger and needed to go to the hospital. They came right over. Nana took the kids and Gabe drove me. I thought I was being pretty tough but I guess I was pretty obviously in shock. "What would you do in a situation like that?" I laughed my way through the shots and stitches, mostly at myself. I feel like such a dumby. It doesn't hurt now, but is a very annoying reminder of what an idiot I can be. I think Gabe called it a, "fat kid move".

There you have it. A very memorable Inauguration. Welcome President Obama.

Water = Fun

The weather here last Saturday may have been partially cloudy with a high of 32 degrees, but in the Lehi Legacy Center it's always a nice 85 degrees with a high chance of FUN! (ha ha)

In the bottom of the sea...

We LOVE the aquarium! It's a magical (and small) world away from our own. The kids touched, ran, pointed, jumped, oohed, awed, and I did the same thing.

I can't wait to take the kids to Sea Life Park.... they will want to live there forever. There's a kids music group called "Ralph's World" with a song called, "In the bottom of the sea." It's a family favorite- really not just for kids. Tried to find a link, but just because I couldn't find it doesn't mean you shouldn't try. You and your kids will love it. Car rides will be so much better with "Ralph's World"- promise!

Sleep and Food

Sleep and food are two of my favorite things. In the winter I definitely spend more time thinking about both of them. I think about sleep because it's dark until at least eight in the morning, so I feel way way worse when the ol' rooster (Taj) starts crowing. It got really bad after the last daylight saving, which I hate. He started getting up at five, then up several times in the night to ask if it was morning yet since he knew it would be dark until way later. Ugh. This fun development turned into a horrible going to bed routine of him getting up sometimes twenty times before the final sleep. Grabbing at our last straws, Micah and I decided that if we pulled out the nap and turned it into quiet time he'd be so tired that he might actually go to bed and actually stay in bed. The good news is it worked. Taj is sleeping from eight until seven-YAHOO! The bad news is that "quiet time" isn't usually so quiet. He sings really loudly and jumps all over his room, and who knows what else he does in there, but it is in his room...away from us, and he seems to like it :). I knew the day would come, just not so soon.

Being stuck indoors more this time of year has me close to obsessed with food. I'm cooking a lot more, which is a plus. I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes...send along any of your favorites please, I've got several months of cooking ahead. The winter layer is coming along nicely thanks to this. Oh well. Here's a tasty one I tried last night. It's a Brazilian style chicken with a mango salsa. So good. I'll post the recipe someday (supposed to be a thirty minute recipe, but that's obviously referring to a cook without two little ones).Now if you don't mind, I'm going up for some winter hibernating :)

A Few Discoveries...

* I am a terrible shoveler. This is sad because I really enjoy it- it's usually quiet out there and I'm outside getting fresh air and exercise.

*There's nothing worse than the feeling of getting sweaty with all your snow stuff on. Dirty.

*If I tell Taj he's Iron Man and Eden is Pepper Pots he is the sweetest guy to her and all of a sudden loves to play with her and help her do things.

*Taj discovered the light in his bedroom closet...

*Micah and I have discovered Taj sitting in his closet with the light on after he was supposedly fast asleep. Stinker.

*I could seriously feed my children cereal, hot dogs, and taquito's every meal for the rest of their lives....

* I really need to come up with healthier food options for the kiddo's.

*Eden's belly button. She's LOVES belly buttons and is constantly feeling her own and looking for mine.

Things I wish I could discover:

*A way to get Eden to drink milk.

* Warm winter clothes (especially shoes) that don't make me feel like Napolean Dynomite wearing moon boots.

*How to get Taj to stay in his bed through the night without having to take him back to his room. Ugh. Thank heavens for a helpful husband and for Taj usually going to his side of the bed first:)

* A motivation (that works) to get me to exercise in the winter.

Puppy Love

I'm officially done breastfeeding. It was a sad couple of days for Eden, which made it a sad couple of days for me. I don't consider myself especailly sentimental, but this experience (weening while NOT expecting another) has made me a little sappy and sentimental. I'm suprisingly emotional over something I was really looking forward to.
I've played with the idea of getting a puppy before, but now that my babies aren't babies anymore I have been really really REALLy wanting a puppy. I think it's just the emotions. I've found myself watching the pet adoption commercials on Demand (our cable offers them), and going ga-ga for some of the pups at petfinder.com. I'm sure I'll get over this soon enough, but in the meantime-HELP! (as if it were that serious) But seriously, as a person that has never had a dog before, can you help talk some sense into me? Take the sweet, cudley, puppy perfect picture out of my head. Give it to me straight- would a puppy be a huge mistake?

the Holidays

Christmas was great. A lot of family time, great food, presents, happy kids- who'd complain about that? We've had tons of snow lately so we spent some time shoveling instead of going to Aunt Roses for Christmas dinner. We loved every overstimulated minute. I think I overdid the holiday excitement in the beginning because by the end of Christmas I was feeling a little grinchy... like we spent way too much money and did too much. I think I just needed sleep. As the kids get older and can understand the true meaning of Christmas we'll try to focus more on that. For now acting out the nativity, giving presents, and spending time with the family is wonderful. And Happy New Year!!

And to all those that thoughtfully gave stuff to Taj, he says, "We got a lot of crap!" It was said in the sweetest voice ever- we're not quite sure he gets what "crap" means. We had a good laugh and are working on helping our kids show more gratitude :)

Put In My Place

Life seems to have a way of putting me in my place. When I get too comfortable as a mom the kids throw something new at me. When I complain about the weather and living in Utah (poor me right) it floods in Laie leaving tons of people "living" in some bad conditions and having lost a lot. I've put together a small list of things I'm grateful for while living here in Utah in the snow:

1. We live really close to Nana, Pop-Pop, and Grandma Letty. Their help has gotten me through many a cold day.

2. I don't really feel obligated to shower after an outdoor run because it's so cold I don't sweat. (I usually do anyway).

3. We have an excuse to cuddle and drink hot chocolate-yum.

4. Taj loves Snow Plows, so it's something to look forward to, kind of like police cars or the garbage man.

5. Taj likes to play in the snow so it's a pretty good time burner to get him in all the snow gear (usually very pleasant through the ordeal). It can really break up a long day stuck indoors.

6. My kids have seen and played in snow at a young age, verses my first real experience in college.

So it's a pretty short list, but I really feel so blessed. I'm especially grateful that I get to experience all of this with my sweet husband. He can make me smile through anything.

It's Official

Winter is upon us...officially. I've been lying to myself for months, taking the kids to the park all bundled up, wearing slippers, not grabbing jackets or hats. But no longer. There's no denying the winter-ness going on outside my temperature controlled home. When I took the picture of the flowers I thought, "This is how I feel inside."(a joke...kind of).

In the winter spirit we have been decorating and doing all the holiday stuff. We got our tree- Love the smell, pulled out all the decorations, saw the lights at Temple Square, and have "the best Christmas CD Ever" mix playing non-stop (thank you Cami). Taj and Eden are so much fun to have around this time of year. They ooh and awe over all the lights and decorations. Taj has a game where when he sees Christmas decorations he shouts "Merry Christmas!" and if there aren't any he says, "Bah Humbug!" He also loves to pretend to be Frosty the Snowman and a chipmunk (from Alvin and the Chipmunks) and sings his heart out. We even got a prayer from a chipmunk the other night.

Before I forget...

On Thanksgiving Taj and Eden couldn't stand the wait. They were total vultures around the kitchen. Taj was so curious about the dining room set up and was even finding it hard to resist putting his hands in every ones glasses so I finally told him we should just go downstairs and play. He grabs his chair as tight as he can and says, " But, I just, I just can't help myself."

So true. Welcome to life.

When it was finally time to eat Eden snuggled closer than ever during the prayer. She finally got a taste of the mashed potatoes and looked up with a huge grin, then licked her lips. So worth the wait, huh.

After dinner the kids wanted lollipops instead of pie (of coarse they ended up with both). Eden was in heaven, until her lollipop got stuck in her hair. Her Daddy lovingly and gently calmed her down and removed it for her.

Taj has been cracking us up with some some original thoughts such as:

"I'm a National Hero".

We get really dried out here so one night after bath Taj tells us, "Don't put the cream on my nose cuz I want it to be red like Rudolph."

When I was reading Aladdin to Taj the other night we got to the part where Aladdin and Jazmin fall in love "in the moonlight". Taj looks up at me and says, "I fell in love with you Mom." He now says that to the whole family because he knows he gets hugs and kisses. He also says he fell in love when he falls onto his seat at the dinner table. We'll take what we can get.

Micah was out of town last weekend so I was doing the night time routine without him. Taj gave the prayer and said, "Please help Eden sleep good in her crib and Mommy sleep good in her bed, with no one on the other side."

The innocenct humor and joy is everywhere. I love being a mom.