Cool Ideas

It just so happens that the people that moved out of the apartment we used to live in just before we moved here live just a few doors down from us. How random is that?! It was cool talking to the mom at the park, because we lived under the missionaries and got to know some of them pretty well. Anyway...she gave me this cool idea. During the sacrament she has a book that she gives to her 18 month old son with pictures of Christ that she cut out from the Ensign. It says on the front page, "During the Sacrament, I think of the Savior" in big handwriting. I thought that was so cool, because Shayden understands so much, and they can start to understand what the Sacrament is all about so little. I just wanted to pass the idea along. I made myself one last week and it worked well to keep her busy during that special time, and helped her remember what it's all about.

This is for you, mom. These are some yummy recipes I've gotten a hold of the past while...

Breakfast Bars (from Lisa Sheffer)

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup butter
1/2 cup ground flax
mix well and push onto bottom of 9x13 in. pan

4 eggs
2 cups chopped walnuts
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup coconut
mix well and pour over crust

Bake 30-35 min. at 350 degrees.
These taste kind of like homemade granola bars. You can mix things around and do butterscotch chips, or if you like raisins, yada yada. Paul doesn't like nuts, so sometimes I leave those out.

Also here is a yummy Mexican Pasta Salad. I made this for Cody and Lisa when we first moved into our house. It's pretty yummy.

20 oz macaroni or shell pasta
2 cups mayo
2 cups buttermilk
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Fiesta Ranch Dip mix
Kidney Beans
Garbonzo Beans
Corn
Green Pepper
Red Onion
Olives

Serve with tortilla chips, avacado, tomatoes and grated cheese.

I add black, or red beans or whatever beans I have on hand. To get rid of too much of an onion taste, I'd saute the onion and green pepper in a little bit of oil before I add it to the salad. You can eat it warm or cold...but it's meant to be cold. Just add enough of each of the ingredients to serve your taste. Yum! Also this makes a ton, so for a family of 5 I'd definitely half it.

Pricey Pictures...

I feel like I have to get pictures, because your kids grow so fast and you need some memory of them, right? I finally got an appointment and got some pictures to share, but they were really pricey. Does anyone have some ideas to knock the price down, but still get good pictures?

Hot Bod

One of the counselors from Oakcrest when I was a cook back in the day keeps up an awesome blog. Once she had this video from You Tube from a stay at home dad doing workouts with the things you watch...your kids. "People always ask me, they say, 'Dave [or whatever his name was] how did you get such a hot bod?' And I tell them I can't go to the gym all the time. So I'm going to show you with this simple workout video." And then he does this bar lifting with a toddler and curls with a baby. "If you find the weight distracting, like if they're laughing at your or something, just look away." He also did sit ups with a baby and they think it's some type of peek-a-boo game, but really you're in incredible pain...

In my efforts to get a hot bod while being a stay at home mom, I tried it out. Here's me doing sit ups with Gavon. Paul is recording, and Gavon kept looking at the camera and he gets all serious when he does.

Pampered Chef Mystery Piece

I thought I'd share the good news. I lost a pampered chef attachment to my teaspoon and haven't seen it for almost 9 months. I saw it in the move, but then it disappeared again. I was looking through some bibs today, and walah! There it was. How did it get there? I have no idea.

No more washing huge measuring cups just to use 1/4 teaspoon.

We miss you Daddy!

Videos

A successful first time with solid food.

Dance Magic Dance

The one with Shay and Gavon on the floor has Clint Eastwood music going on in the background. That's for you Dad! It was from some movie with Clint Eastwood and a nun..."If you weren't a nun, I'd let you save your own bacon."

Shay's new word

Shayden likes to say "Sure."

Me: "Do you want to take your coat off?"
Shay: "Sure."

Me: "Do you want some juice?"
Shay: "Sure."

P.S. Gavon's first taste of solid food went well today. He thought it was pretty weird...videos to come.

Easter Catch Up

We had a great Easter! Tom and Lisa invited us to Tom's family party and we had a fun Easter Egg Hunt with Prizes, and met a lot of cool people. Jennifer got all the cool pictures, so I'll have to get them from her. She got one of Gavon laughing that was sooooo cute. Shayden had so much fun. We were also able to see Cuyler, go to Caitlyn's Bridal shower, and hang out with Teri, Casey, Audry, Daryl, and Jaime. Taryn and Tyler were there for a little too. We also went to a dinner/party at Gwen's house and saw Kristi and Lynette. Wow! Talk about fun seeing everyone. I'll try to post more pictures as they become available.

For now, here's a video I'm finally able to post of Lee and Shayden dressed as pirates going to Luke's Party.