Monday- Chicken Fried Rice with Bok Choy

So i got a bunch of Bok choy in my Bountiful Basket...never cooked with it before...so this will be an experiment.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-fried-rice-with-bok-choy-10000000592352/

Tuesday- Black Bean Spinach Enchiladas

http://www.thegardengrazer.com/2012/03/black-bean-spinach-enchiladas.html

Wednesday- Cafe Rio Tortilla Soup

http://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/2012/06/our-version-of-cafe-rios-chicken-tortilla-soup.html

Thursday-Chicken Spinach Parmigiana

http://tastyplanner.com/recipes/spinach-and-cheese-stuffed-chicken-breasts

Friday- Creamy Pesto Pasta with Cesar Salad

http://www.notenoughcinnamon.com/2012/08/21/skinny-pesto-cream-pasta/

Saturday- Eating Out!!

Sunday- Matt's Birthday

Pork Tenderloin and Steak (my own recipes)

Creamy potatoes (Grandmas Recipe)

Roasted Asparagus (own recipe)

Vanilla and Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake...unless Matt changes his mind and wants something else:)

Thoughts on Motherhood

Ok mommies.....when people find out you are a stay at home mom, do you ever get the question...."Oh so what do you do all day?"  I just happen to hate that question!

So you may be thinking..WHY .... what is the big deal?  Well I hate it because I shouldn't have to list everything I do all day.  I don't ask the hair stylist what she does all day or the project manager what his day entails.  Sometimes it feels like I am being put on the spot and having to prove that I am not some lazy mom who is too afraid or unmotivated to get a "real job."

I will admit there have been times where I have met successful people my own age who have cool jobs and felt a little embarrassed telling them I am just a stay at home mom.  I feel like I have to add something else like.."well  I also coach high school basketball or I have my degree in teaching"...like it will help make me seem a little more accomplished.   I once met an older man at a convention for Matt's work and when I told him I was just a stay at home mom he looked at me and said, "just...just a stay at home mom?"  He continued to say, "Do not use "just" with your role as a mother.  Motherhood is one of the most important jobs and callings there is."

I have not always felt comfortable playing the role of a mother.  In my earlier twenties I honestly felt too young to be a mother and felt like I was not ready for this job.  I thought I was ruining my children and that I should have never been entrusted with these little free spirits   I was too imperfect and constantly making mistakes.

But thankfully with life there is growth and I have been able to grow  into my calling of motherhood.  I love being a mother and I love staying home with my kiddos   Not everyday is perfect and I make mistakes all the time but I have learned that my children are resilient and strong.  I was born to be a mom, I truly feel like it is my calling and purpose...as cheesy as that sounds and I am no longer embarrassed to tell people that I am just a stay at home mom.  I feel that being a mom.... whether you stay at home or not means that you are part of a group who's common interest is to better our families and society as a whole.  We make sacrifices so our kids can have a happier home, and opportunities that will make them better people.

The more I have thought about it, the more I have realized that being a mother means I have many different roles. We are not just mothers but.... nutritionists  chefs, nurses, maids, therapists, religious guides, monster hunters, professional bedtime singers, dental hygienists  stylists, costume designers, party planners, coaches/trainers/water boys, teachers, chauffeusr, animal tamers, social events coordinators,  journalists, body guards, hair stylists, storytellers, negotiators  cheerleaders, bakers, wardens, tooth fairies, Easter bunnies and Santa's Elves.  These are just a few of our roles we play.

So I guess the next time I am asked what I do...I can confidently list some of my "titles."

So Moms...what are some of the ways you answer the question, "So...what do you do?"

Swim Team

 Avery did swim team this last month.  It was the beginner level and she improved so much.  It was more like swim lessons...only with a swim meet at the end.  She really took to it and felt very confident in the water.

 When it was time for the swim meet she was so excited and confident...not nervous at all....she must get that from Matt.  I know it was just for fun, but I found myself feeling a little nervous for her.

Avery won three first place ribbons and one second place ribbon.  In the car after the meet she was looking at her ribbons feeling pleased with herself and then said, "Mom I could of had all blue ribbons if I would have swam a little faster in my first race."  I had this moment after listening to her talk where I was trying to decide if I should take the mommy road or the coach road...my mommy took over and I tried to explain that the ribbons didn't matter.  It is just about having fun and trying to do the best we can do. But I am secretly loving that she has a competitive side and that she is not afraid to challenge herself.

This same week she had her first basketball game.  This was a whole new experience for Matt and I.  We were trying to coach her team in the midst of pure chaos and confusion.  We got killed by the other team...of all boys... who clearly had been playing since they could walk.  On the way home I had such mixed emotions. She did not really get the concept of the game and with two minutes remaining she asked to sit so someone else could play.  Why would she want to sit?  Was she not interested in the game?   Maybe she was just being a team player.  Maybe she does not really like basketball.  What if she is not any good at it?  What if she chooses not to play?  What if she is only playing because I want her to?  Am I prepared for the day she does not want to do it?  What if I am pushing her to hard and I ruin the game for her and she doesn't want to play because of me.  How can I get these kids to learn how to play the game?  I wonder if the internet has information on how to coach 6 year olds?

I was becoming completing overwhelmed in thought and strategy when I realized I was freaking out about 6 year olds!  I may have a passion for basketball and sports in general but Avery is only 6...she is just a little girl who wants to have fun and be silly and make new friends.  I need to just make it fun for her and one day if she decides not to play....I will have to be OK with that ( but secretly I am praying that never happens:)

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess

 Avery's class was having a big Dr. Seuss celebration.  They got to go to school in their pajamas and read lots of Dr. Seuss stories.  The night before she informed me that each student could bring treats for the class...so using what I had around the house I attempted to make some Dr. Seuss themed cupcakes.  The above picture are the trees from The Lorax (you kind of have to use your imagination on some of these)  I made all the toppers out of chocolate.

 These are the green eggs from the famous...."Do you like green eggs and ham?"

 This last one is the fish from "One fish Two Fish."  It is a fish in a fish bowl.

We put them in the cupcake holder and packed them off to school.  I don't remember celebrating Dr. Seuss as a kid in school.  I am wondering if this is a new trend...but the kids seem to love it.

On another note.  That same day we got to go to Avery's school and present them a donation during their assembly   Exxon is great about giving back to the community so through their partnership with Berry Oil and a local Exxon station...Matt was able to present them a check to go towards buying new books for their library.  It was pretty fun to watch the kids cheer when they found out they were going to get new books!  Avery had been asking Matt for months if she could present the check to the principal.  So when it was time Avery handed the check over and shook the principals hand.  I could tell the she felt so big.

Menu

Monday: Chicken Chili

Tuesday: Pizza and a healthy version that I am so curious to try pizza with cauliflower crust (hopefully it turns out)
   

Wednesday: Cilantro Thai Grilled Chicken with quinoa southwest salad

Thursday: Fish Tacos with Vinegar Potatoes

Friday: Lemon angel hair pasta with chicken and spinach with salad


Saturday: Santa Fe stuffed peppers(my plan is to tweak this a bit using leftover quinoa salad  from Wednesday that I did not put the dressing on...because I know my family will not eat all of it.  This way it gets used in two different meals.)


Sunday: Texas Oven Roasted Beef Brisket with creamy garlic mashed potatoes and honey glazed roasted root vegetables and for dessert....probably homemade ice cream and brownie Sundae's

V-day

I was in Califronia this past week for my sister's wedding.  It was awesome the weather was beautiful....the only thing missing was my family.  Mattie and I went solo on this trip.  Before I left I joked with Matt that this was his lucky year because I would be gone over Valentines day and he wouldn't have to do anything.  Well the day of the 14th I was at my sisters helping set up and prep for the wedding.  The UPS guy rolled up carrying moutnians of packages that had been sent for my sisters wedding.  No joke, the guy was trying to carry 5 huge boxes at once.  It looked like Macy's was sponsering her wedding!  Then my sister put a box on my lap and I noticed it had my name on it.  I figured it was some relative that was sending her a wedding gift but got our names mixed up. (that will happen occasionsly...but mostly with my sister Lara and Jenni,  people will mix them up and think Lara is Jenni....that happened a few times at the reception, some people thought Lara was the bride)  When I opened it I saw these beautiful flowers with a little note from Matt. I could not believe that he had sent me flowers...it was so sweet!  I got to watch these beauties bloom during the rest of the week...and I was so sad to leave them behind at my sisters. 

My love hate realtionship

I have a love hate relationship with bathing. My kids love to take baths....except Mattie...she hates getting her head wet.  I love baths because it contains my kids for a bit and keeps them occupied.  I hate baths because.....Mattie will poop in them about 75% of the time.  After being a lifeguard for many years I must say there is nothing worse then having to fish a terd out of the pool....or bath tub.  Ughhh just thinking about it makes me want to vomit.... 

 Hailey loves to make the ducks pee...she thinks it is hilarious. 

 On another note...this was my pathetic attempt at decorating for valentines day.  I was headed to California and would be gone for Valentines day, but before I left I thought I would try and make the house a little more special for the girls. 

I left them some fun valentines to open....with chocolates and socks....I missed not being there to decorate heart cookies and go through Avery's valentines notes from school and make special crafts with them....I thought they would totally miss that stuff...but turns out they didn't.  They hung with their dad and had a great time.  It makes me realize that it probably doesn't matter what we do with our kids....as long as we are just spending quality time with them. 

Just a few pictures

 My first introduction to Pinewood Derby.  We had a lot of boys participate and there were some neat cars.  The track was brand new and very high tech!!!  I don't know what was more enjoyable...the boys getting into it or the Dads getting into it.

 On another note Mattie turned one years old and this is how we celebrated.  My parents came up for the weekend and while I was cooking breakfast my creative dad helped the girls make use of some old boxes.  We call the above one "robot mommy" and the below picture is their play house.

 It is amazing to me that a pile of trash can turn into hours of fun play time for the kids.  Seriously....who needs toys!

 I kept her birthday low key....I hung up my apron on this one and opted for some delicious cupcakes from the Cocoa Bean instead.  My parents had taken us out to eat for lunch at Sizzler...so needless to say we were stuffed but luckily the birthday girl found room to devour a cupcake.

 So as part of my "diet" I have been trying to limit sugar...so watching her eat this moist chocolate cupcake with delicious creamy frosting topped with a fresh raspberry ....was almost to much for me.  I felt like I was one of those cartoon characters that is starving and sees the friend as a roasted chicken....my mouth was watering and I would be lying if the thought of licking her clean did not cross my mind. 

-don't you love her chipmunk teeth?

Weekly Dinner Menu

Monday
Spaghetti, garlic bread and salad

Tuesday
Tuscan Soup and olive garden bread sticks

Wednesday
pulled pork sandwich with homemade buns

Thursday
Cilantro chicken salad with creamy lime cilantro dressing

Friday
chicken and lemon ginger potstickers

Saturday
Fish Tacos

Sunday
bacon glazed meatloaf  and mashed potatoes with green beans

Monday
shredded beef tacos

Tuesday
Chicken Chilli

I head to California so Matt has the rest of the week.....looks like a fun week of cereal and eggs and toast for the kidos!!!

Proof that God has a sense of humor

So I am not going to lie...the most dreaded calling in the church for me is scouts.  I have no boys and I don't know how to do all those boy things....and I detest those scouting uniforms the leaders wear.  I joke with Matt that if I ever got called to scouts I would leave the church..

Well a couple of weeks ago Matt and I got called in to meet with the 2nd councilor.  Now I am one of those weirdos that really like callings and I want to be put to work....so being in a new ward I was jazzed about having a calling that i could meet other people.  So when he called me to be the Webelos leader I could not believe it, I thought it was a joke...but he assured me it was not a joke and I just sat there.  The counselor looked so nervous like he thought I was going to punch him in the face.

On the way home Matt asked me how I was feeling.  I compared my feeling to having played varsity baskteball then getting moved down to the C-team. I just did not want to do this calling. 

Well my first den meeting went ok...I lost control of them towards the end and they pretty much just walked out the door to go play in the gym and left me sitting there like a complete failure.  So this week I went to our den meeting like a prisoner just doing their time.  But something happened that I did not excpect.  I actualley started enjoying being around those little stinkers and they have just kind of grown on me.  Never in a million years would I have thought that I would enjoy this calling, but to be honest I am starting to enjoy it!

So it is true that Heavenly Father knows us, our fears, our likes and dislikes and he knows when it is time to get us out of our comfort zones.  So I will embrace my calling as a Webelos leader and stop pouting about it....although there is no way that I will be adorning a ugly yellow mans shirt with plaid scarf and badges anytime soon!

New Year Resolutions

Uhhh I forgot to link up my menu....doesn't do me any good if I can't get to the recipes:)  So far they have been pretty good...so if you are needing some dinner ideas you should check some of them out:)

On another note...is anyone like me and seems to make the same resolutions year after year.  I always do OK in the beginning and then I just forget about my goals or I choose to just not follow through.  Well this year is my year....I am going to do it!!!! 

My big goal is to get all this weight off.  I want to have a healthier lifestyle...from what I eat to what I do and even how I think and feel.  With that being said I have a few reservations....and I am just wondering if others go through this when they set goals. 

#1. I can't help but have that little doubting voice in the back of my mind that says, "can you really do this, your not strong enough."  That doubt puts fear in my mind and limits me from being fully committed.  I need to learn to be confident in my self and believe in myself.:)

#2.  My next fear is what if I actually accomplish this goal...It would totally change my life and would I be ok with that?  I think I just get comfortable with being who I am and it is hard to change and get out of my comfort zone.  The unknown it always a little scary.

#3.  My last fear...is that it is hard.  I always tell me kids to not be afraid to do hard things....and I need to be a better example of that.  With that being said I know that I would appreciate the journey much more if I had to work hard to get there...then having it just come easy to me.  I know it will take effort and time and I have to be patient and just "keep on keeping on."

So excuse this post for getting personal but I thought if I wrote it down in public then I would feel more determined to follow through.  So good luck to all of you who are working this year to accomplish the goals you have set.!

Two Week Dinner Menu

I am just posting my two week dinner menu....so it is easy for me to refer back to recipes....instead of searching all over my pintrest boards.

MONDAY: Tacos (Avery's turn to help cook)
TUESDAY: broccoli cheese soup and rolls (Hailey's turn to help cook) My own recipe
WEDNESDAY: Chicken Cordon Blue with a side of peas
http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2012/07/chicken-cordon-bleu-casserole/
Banana Cheesecake Roll
THURSDAY: Soy Ginger Chicken and Rice
FRIDAY:Sloppy Joes and potato chips
SATURDAY: breakfast
omelet and breakfast potatoes 
Dinner : ? Matt's turn
SUNDAY: Roasted Chicken and Veggies

2nd Week
MONDAY: Caprese Pizza and Regular Cheese Pizza andhttp://www.neighborfoodblog.com/2012/09/caprese-pizza.html  and Salad (Avery's turn)
TUESDAY: Chicken Lettuce Wraps  ( Haileys turn)
WEDNESDAY: Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and garlic french bread
THURSDAY: Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad
FRIDAY: BLT's and salt and vinegar potatoes
SATURDAY: Breakfast
Raspberry cheesecake stuffed french toast
Dinner:? Matt's turn
SUNDAY: meat loaf and mashed potatoes and green beans

Why you should not take your child to the dentist with you

We finally made it to the dentist.  I am sad to say we have not gone in years....(uhmm ya don't judge me.)  We took the gang and went in for exams and cleanings, knowing that we would probably be back to fill a cavity or two.  Well turns out we all had cavitys to fill, except Hailey...who hates to brush her teeth...go figure.  So while I was getting my cavity filled Avery wanted to sit in the room with me.  At the time I saw no problem with this.

The Dentist thought it would be a good idea to use me as an example to show Avery how easy it was to get my tooth filled becaue she was getting hers filled after me.  As she was watching cartoons on the TV in the room he turns to her and says, "see Avery your mom is being so brave, she is so tough."  Avery looks at him and says "well she is not tough when my daddy spanks her."

I instantly started squirming and trying to explain...but my efforts went unheard due to the giant piece of plastic that was shoved in my mouth and cutting off all efforts of verbal communication.  The dentist cleared his throat and chuckled for a minute and then looked at me and said "oh really...well that is very interesting."  Right then I learned a very important lesson.  If you have a very blunt and chatty child do not take them anywhere....especially if you are in a situation where you can not explain what your child meant to say. 

(Disclosure....my child was referring to the times when Matt spanks me in a fun teasing way...it just sounded a little "dirty" to the adults in the room and she sat there a little perplexed and pleased that we were all laughing at her.)

The stockings were hung

 This year I did not have much time to do my usual crafting during the holiday season...but I was able to get the stockings done that were on my list.  Thanks to pintrest I was able to figure put how to do some cute and inexpensive stockings.

 I was able to do them out of old sweaters and then I decided they needed a little something so I put vintage buttons on two of them.  For Hailey and Avery's I took them to the fabric store and they picked out the fabric they wanted for their flowers that I pinned onto their stockings.  It was surprised how much they loved picking out the fabric...I may have future crafters on my hands!

 The girls were really worried about how Santa was going to get in our house this year.  We have a fireplace but it is gas and they were a little worried about him.  So I found these keys and told them that we will keep them out for him.  So for a fun new Christmas Eve tradition, the girls hung the keys on the front door knob outside so that Santa could use them to unlock our door and get into the house.  Then Santa left them by the empty plate of cookies.

The Nelson Party

 I had to post this picture of my grandpa and Matt's grandpa.  They are both old farmers and cowboys and the stories that they could tell would make for an amazing book!  They are truly our hero's.

 We had a Nelson party this year at my parents.  My whole family was together and like usual we had a great time.  My mom had the girls do a little program that included fairy wings...

 Dancing....

 and as usual....wrestling.

 My brother Kurt and his awesome wife Taylor came up from Utah

 along with my brother Jared and his awesome wife and family.  They just had a new baby and she was so fun to hold and snuggle.  The only one that was missing was Jenni's fiance Christian.  They will be getting married in February and we are super excited to welcome him into the family.

We had a white Elephant gift exchange that included these fun nerf guns.  They were a huge hit with the kids.  Especially for my niece Elsie she loves anything that has to do with super heros or good guys and bad guys.