MOV022

This dang video took AGES and zillions of tries to load- and I'm not sure why- but here it finally is.
It took us about ten days to get them all down- and we undoubtedly have some work to do- but check this kid out. I'm proud of him. We figured if he could tell apart and properly name DOZENS of trains (that all look the same to us anyway) then he could for sure do the same with the Apostles.

He REFUSES to say M. Russel Ballard. Every time I tell him the name- he says "no mama, it's russell nelson" so we had to just call him M. Ballard. He's also a little shaky on some of them ("id doctor" translates to David Bednar and Uchdorf takes a few times to spit out properly) but he's still pretty good. He can tell Cook and Oaks apart- but always calls them both Dallin Oaks. I love that he calls Thomas Monson "Thomas Monson the Prophet" every time.
yesterday while we were out running- we passed an older gentleman and Zeb kept yelling out "Boyd Packer, mama! Boyd Packer!". I love this kid.

summertime

Let's just stay like this all summer. A nice cool morning for some good yard sale shopping and a fabulous run- and then a stellar 77 degrees for a dip in the pool. Even though they did fill the pool with a hose and the water was FREAKING freezing- the little kiddos didn't seem to mind at all! if it doesn't get any hotter or more humid this summer (yeah, right) I won't need to get in the pool at all and the chilly water temps won't bother me in the slightest.

happenings in our household this week.

After the hype of Monday (being zeb's birthday and all) the rest of our week has just moseyed on by. We've had good days and pretty normal happenings.

Today I got my double jogger rain cover in the mail. I was sick of worrying about the rugrats while running in the rain- and now I'm sure we won't have another rainy day until september- but I am prepared. My blog book is done being processed and should show up within the next week. Oh- and a lot of people have been asking. I did the book at blurb and I backup my blog at bloggled (it's totally free for the manual backup). If you order anything from blurb- MAKE SURE and do a google search for promo/discount codes. I found a ten dollar off code and my 102 page hardcover color book (including shipping) was only 44 dollars. I've decided that the cost of printing off all of those pictures (something like 600 of them!!!) and/or any scrapbooking I would do would cost well over fourty-four dollars so it is very worth it.

Ike continues to roll more and more! and the older he gets, the more people tell me he looks like Zeb. What do you think? Zeb likes him- but doesn't real care much about him. He'll kiss him if I tell him to and smile at him when he walks by, but that's about it. I asked him to hold Ike for this picture and he kept trying to get him off. They both looked kinda bugged.
For playgroup this week we played soccer. Too bad the kids were more interested in the drains than anything else. They sat and yelled "Hello down there!"and giggled at their echoes for an eternity.

and I tried a Thai food recipe for the first time EVER this week. Maybe it's actually Indian food. I don't know. It had "thai" coconut milk- but also curry. All I know is that it was "ethnic". I'm sure this (or something similar) is a staple in many of your homes. This recipe was SOOOOOOOOO easy and very tasty so I wanted to add it to my recipe collection. My modifications are in white. This one also came from the sister's cafe.

1 Tb canola oil (I used NONE. I just did nonfat cooking spray.)

1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-sized strips or chunks

2 tsp curry powder

1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped (I hate spicy so the jalapeno was OUT. Instead I put in a few dashes of red pepper flakes)

3 c frozen cut green beans (we did PEAS instead and they were sooooo delicous)

1 14 oz can lite coconut milk, divided

3/4 c peanut butter (I did just under 1/2 cup and it was still VERY peanut buttery)

2 Tb soy sauce

1/4 c snipped fresh cilantro (none)

3 c hot cooked jasmine rice or Thai noodles (we did BROWN rice)

1. In a large skillet heat oil over med-high heat. In a med bowl toss chicken with curry powder and jalapeno. Add to skillet; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Carefully add beans and 3/4 c coconut milk. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

2. In a medium bowl stir together 1 c coconut milk (remaining amount), peanut butter, and soy sauce. Add to skillet. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes more or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Stir in 2 Tb of the cilantro. Serve chicken mixture over rice or noodles and sprinkle with remaining cilantro. Makes 6 servings.

**Make sure you use LITE coconut milk - otherwise it's a little to oily.

Zucchini soupy.

I had some pre-blended frozen zucchini in my freezer from ages ago that was screaming to be used so I found this recipe from the sister's cafe last night. I made some adjustments to the recipe (added potatoes and carrots for better texture and more "umph"). It was pretty good. The bacon and cheese make the recipe- but you don't have too add so much that it becomes unhealthy. And turkey bacon tasted great in it. I also ended up adding the milk to a roux (1tbsmelted butter/1tbsflour mixture -like the beginnings of gravy) to thicken the soup slightly.
1 small/medium onion finely chopped
1 tbs butter
garlic
2-3 cups sliced zucchini
2 cups chicken broth
1-2 cooked potatoes cut into baby squares (it's okay if they mash up a bit)
1 cup chopped carrots
salt/pepper
1/2 cup half and half (I used MILK.)
grated cheese
crumbled turkey bacon

In a large saucepan cook onions/garlic in melted butter until tender. Add sliced zucchini and chicken broth and bring to a boil. Simmer until tender (about 15 min.) Add salt and pepper. Cool slightly. Pour mixture into blender and puree it. Since mine was already pureed I just heated it up-added my cooked carrots and potatoes and then added the milk. Return to saucepan and reheat- don't get too hot or the milk/cream may separate. Garnish with grated cheese, sour cream, and bacon bits.

I'm exhausted and I can't access my pictures from my camera to post because my blog book is loading (hooray- it's finished!!) and it won't let me. This boring post will have to suffice for the evening.

Yesterday- besides celebrating Zeb's birthday- we also ran around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to solve our electronic woes. My phone stopped working and we have an old back up phone but it was freaking out and would crackle whenever Kent tried to talk on it (he actually gave me his phone for my sim card and he took the old trashy one). We did some phone shopping this weekend and found out that we could get some fabulous ones for FREE at Walmart- even though they cost 50.00 and 70.oo at the T-mobile store! I got the nokia one that comes with three fancy face plates and a cool glowing screen and kent got the pearl blackberry flip (with a recommendation from daysa). I really love my new phone.








Plus when I got in the car in the morning to head to the park for my run I realized that my turn signals weren't working AT ALL. The inside indicators didn't turn on- nothing on the outside- and even no hazards. We checked the fuses and they were all in working condition- so after a trillion texts and one very expensive phone call to my dad (my family is on a cruise in Italy so I didn't feel bad that it cost him) we decided it was the the turn signal flasher/relay box. We searched online and figured out how to fix it- but couldn't find the right part nearby so we just decided to bite the bullet and take it into the shop. We are obsessed with the Midas people here. They were SO nice today. They gave us all sorts of good deals and discounts and were super helpful! I stress out SO badly about car issues. Car problems give me more stress than ANYthing. Why is that?! I think it's because I feel so helpless and clueless.
So- they had the car all day- did a tune-up- a fuel something or other flush- an oil change- tire rotation and a diagnostic and flasher fix- all for less than 150.00 (initially they had told us that JUST the flasher fix would be that much). Hooray. Thank you midas.

it's your birthday. it's your birthday. have a party. have a party.

Rugrat #1 is now 2. He is also very spoiled.
The day began with all sorts of songs and hugs and smiles by me. Kent went to school at five AM so he could be home this evening to celebrate (considering last year he missed the whole darn thing because he was at training in Alabama).

We went running and got SOPPING wet again. The weather people here are not the most accurate forecasters- which is unfortunate considering it's what they get PAID to do. We did run with one of Zeb's friends- so I think he still enjoyed himself.

Kent actually made a semi unexpected home visit for lunch because we've recently had some baaaaad luck with two things- phones and cars. I'll post about them tomorrow. Zeb loved having Kent home for a few minutes to eat lunch with though.

We let him open two of his presents while Kent was home and he was thrilled. Two brand spanking new coloring books and crayons (cost a grand total of 75 cents at a yard sale this weekend). He was mostly intrigued by the "balg eagle" on the back of the crayon package . He noticed and talked about it immediately. He learned about them recently on Little Einsteins.
Then Zeb and Ike both took fabulously synchronized lengthy naps so that I could make an attempt at something I've never tried before. Today I went ALL out and MADE- semi from scratch- a stellar train birthday cake. Duff is not going to be asking me to work for him anytime soon- but I won't be appearing on "cake wrecks" either.
The plan was to make a normal old train- but I found a removable thomas face on one of Zeb's toys and decided I might as well go for the gold and make him. It is by no means a perfect cake- but for my first attempt I am pleased. I took ideas from a plethora of sources and melded them to make it my own. Considering my main goal was to impress the two year old- I would say it was a roaring sucess. The candy as train tender sealed my fate as an excellent cake maker. Check out Zeb's face at the unveiling! He really did like it.*If any of you want to make attempts at your own train or other mini cakes- let me know. I have a few secrets that made it MUCH easier and prettier than it would have been otherwise.

Kent got home and took Zeb out for his own special dinner. Zeb got his very first happy meal and seemed to like it. Hooray for the apples and milk instead of fries and pop! McDonalds has made some good improvements over the years.The most anticipated moment of the evening was slightly anti-climactic- but still a lot of fun. We didn't have a big enough box for it- so we just covered it with his blanket and made him pull it off. A brand new TRIKE!!! He was really excited. He doesn't quite get the hang of it yet but he likes to scoot himself around and stick his toys in the back. A special thanks goes out to Laney and taylor and the slaters for helping with this gift! I've been searching and scouring craigslist for a nice trike for months (they are super pricey in the stores-45-65 dollars!) and I found this one on BUFFALO's craigslist less than two weeks ago! Laney went and picked it up for us and the slaters brought it back here from their vacation. It was brand new and never been ridden on (besides by henry p.) and we got a great deal.
Happy birthday little boy!

I don't think that Ike had as good a day as zebby. He's been a little crabby and I think it's a combination of teething and trying to poo.