April 2019

At the beginning of the month, our friends and neighbors moved and the kids needed some pictures with their friends one last time!

Devynee takes more selfies than any of my other kids combined. Some are pretty fantastic!

Sweet Sydnee goes along with all the crazy in our family. I had to document sweet baby asleep at the dentist.

Ronnie's 2000 Toyota Tundra with over 260,000 miles on it has officially lived its useful life in our family (no longer highway worthy) so we upgraded a bit.  We are loving our new truck!

Kendree was the student of the week in April and filled out information on the poster. Some of my favorite things she wrote are that her favorite place is her house (isn't that the goal of all parents) and her favorite food is Chicken Cordon Bleu (which she had for the first time ever the night before she filled this out.)

My super talented friend made these darling cake pops for Easter, I had to document them!

Instagram: April 2019

Sydnee is 10 months old and moves around like crazy! I only got one picture of her on her back to turn out, out of dozens of attempts. She just wanted to roll and crawl. Sydnee got her first stomach flue this month and it was the saddest. Sick babies are the worst! She cruises around the house all day and puts everything in her mouth. Everything. Frankly, I can't believe she isn't sick more often. Sydnee is such a happy baby and naps like a champ but continues to want her mama at night. Now that she is over her sickness, I am ready to sleep train! Next week is the plan. She lives to see her siblings and they live to entertain her. those younger siblings in a family are so lucky to get all that attention. We love our happy girl!

Sisters snacking while sharing a stool.

We were able to spend a day of our spring break with grandma and grandpa in Laramie. We had a great time bowling, getting ice cream, and spending time together. Grandpa had lots of help putting a bolt on the trailer.  Then the big kids spent the night and had a party! I was not great at taking pictures.

Brynlee was so excited to start preschool at the local high school this morning! Hallee is a little lost without her, but we'll make do! I wish I could bottle "first day of school" excitement and give it to my kids throughout the year. :)

A picture of Daddy and Brynlee on her first day of preschool last week. Here are some quotes from their drive to school that day. "Hallee is getting more and more teeth, so she is going to start talking better and better like us." "I won't have a birthday, until my next birthday." "Why is that bus following us? (She said about the bus we were driving behind)."

Six months ago, Ronnie won round trip airline richest from Cheyenne to Dallas. We decided to surprise Easton with a trip to see the Angels in Texas! A little baseball, a little In N Out and a little father/son time for the win! Even if the Angels didn't (win that is).

Easter weekend! We woke up to eggs and baskets from the Easter Bunny. Then dyed our eggs and had a great time!

Happy Easter! I am so grateful for my Savior and this season and the opportunity we have to celebrate Him!

Easton has been playing on a traveling basketball team this spring and they had their last game recently. They did not win (not even close) but Easton made a nice three (you can see the ball in the first picture) and played well he has loved playing more basketball and looks forward to playing again in the fall once baseball is over.

April 27 was so fun! I got to spend the day with two of my college roommates (and say hello to another). WE had a great time chatting, going to the temple and touring Littleton. So wonderful to be together!

Videos: April 2019

 

Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

(This is a family favorite and is served at most of our extended family gatherings.)

Dressing:

1 C oil

1/2 C vinegar

1/2 C sugar

1 t poppy seeds

1/2 t dry mustard

1 t onion powder

1 t salt

Mix in blender.  Store covered in refrigerator.

Salad:

1 head lettuce, cut up

1 bunch spinach, washed thoroughly, cut up

1/2 bunch green onions, chopped

2 to 4 hard boiled eggs, chopped

1 C grated Swiss cheese

Bacon bits (optional)

Mix all together.  Add dressing at last minute before serving.

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

3 cans whole kernel corn, drained

1 c. milk

1 T sugar

1/4 tsp salt and pepper

8 oz cream cheese, cubed

1/2 c. unsalted butter, cut into thin slices (I have also used salted and just omitted the salt above).

Place corn into a slow cooker. Stir in milk, sugar and pepper until well combined. Without stirring, top with butter and cream cheese. Cover and cook on high heat for 2-3 hours. 

Uncover and stir until butter and cream cheese are well combined. Cover and cook on high heat for additional 15 minutes.

Mary Ann's Hawaiian Chicken

Mary Ann's Hawaiian Chicken

Chicken (thighs are delicious)
1/4 c. soy sauce
1 T chopped onion
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/4 c. corn starch

1/4 c. margarine
2 1/2 c. unsweetened pineapple chunks and juice
2 T lemon juice

Place chicken in bowl. Combine soy sauce, onion and ginger and pour over chicken.  Let stand at least 30 minutes. Turning to coat all sides.

Drain chicken, reserving sauce. Coat with cornstarch.
Place margarine in bottom of large shallow pan and place in 425 degree oven to melt. Place chicken in pan. Bake 30 minutes or until bottom is well browed. Turn the chicken over.

Combine pineapple chunks, lemon juice and reserved sauce and pour over chicken. Bake 15-20 minutes longer.

Cilantro Ranch

Cilantro Ranch

1 jar La Victoria Green Salsa
1 pkt. ranch dressing mix
juice of 1 lime
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 c. mayo
1 c. fresh cilantro, stems removed
2 cloves fresh garlic

Pour everything into the blender.  Blend until well mixed and cilantro is finely chopped.  Good right away, but better if it stands for a day.

Sweet Rice

Sweet Rice

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups White Rice
3 cups Chicken Broth
1 TBSP Vegetable Oil 
1/2 White Onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup Sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 bunch Fresh Cilantro chopped (remove stems)

Directions: 
Heat up the oil in a medium sized pot. Saute onions until almost see-through. Add in the cilantro and cook for 1 minute.  Add in rice, sugar, salt, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.  When the pot is boiling, turn down to low or medium low and cover. Cook 20-25 minutes until the rice is fluffy and has absorbed all the liquid.

Grammy's Rolls

Grammy's Rolls
1/2 batch (makes 3 1/2 dozen rolls (give or take))

2 C scalded milk
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C margarine
2 tsp salt
1 1/2 T yeast
6 C flour (approximately)

1/2 - 1 C butter for after rolls are rolled out

Put margarine, sugar and salt in the mixer. Scald milk in microwave (cook for 3 1/2 - 4 minutes until there is a skin on top). Add milk to mixer and mix.  Add 1 C flour and then yeast, then the rest of the flour. Let raise in greased bowl until double. Roll out and cut circles.  Dip in melted butter and fold roll in half on cookie sheets.  Can freeze.

Bake at 390 degrees for 9 minutes.

Pizza Dough

Pizza Dough

Recipe from Brigette Bailey

1 T instant yeast

3 1/2 - 4 cups flour

1 1/4 cup warm/hot water

1 tsp salt

2 T olive oil

Mix water, salt and yeast and let sit, then mix in flour and oil.  Knead for 2 minutes and lightly cover with oil, then a towel and let rise to double in size. Roll out and make pizza as desired.  Fork holes to prevent bubbles before adding topping.  Will make 2 small/medium pizzas.

Cook at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.

March 2019: Instagram

Sydnee is 9 months old! Out as long as she was in! Sydnee army crawls all over the house and is always following her mama or a sibling to see what the fuss is about. She is eating baby food so much better and still enjoys nursing. Sydnee takes 2-3 naps a day. The first two for two hours each and the third if she needs it for an hour. She goes to bed at about 7 each night and then likes to see her mom 2-3 times between then and 7 a.m.  She is such a happy baby during the day. We all adore her and complete to make her laugh and smile.

It's March! Time for another 30 day reading of the Book of Mormon. I am a few days behind already but determined to make it happen anyway. Every year I am blessed when I make time to do this and I'm sure this year will be no exception. Join me!

Our sweet Sydnee is living her best life. Ruling the floor all over our house and tasting ice cream for the first time. She was a big fan!

Grandma came to visit from California for a few days. We loved our time with her!

It was really considerate of DDP to print what I chant to myself every time I open a can, right ON the can so I don't forget.

Brynlee loves her once a week gymnastics class. I rarely go into the gym to watch her as the other two girls are busy in the play gym next door, but I caught some balance beam work this week. (She is in the black leotard and teal pants).

I was able to push hard this year and finish the entire Book of Mormon in the month of March, even with my late start. I love this book. I know that it is the word of God and that it was written for us many years ago and brought forth in these days so that we could have guidance in these turbulent times. It has given me direction, peace and has deepened my relationship with my Savior. I know that it can also change your life. I would love to send you a copy or have a conversation anytime, anywhere.