S.B.Y.?

I am really bad at singing the correct lyrics to songs and always have been. My 9 year old daughter sings the right lyrics more than I do. I have to ask Brenna what the words are sometimes. It's comical actually! My husband loves it! I won't even go into all the songs that he has caught me singing the wrong words.

Well, recently I added the new Olympics song "Champion" from Queen Latifah to my running list on my ipod.

So you can just imagine me listening to this song every morning while I'm running and singing the song in my head. You know...just trying to ignore the fact that my legs are moving. At one point in the song I keep singing, "I'm fly, no lie I'm the truth Baby S. B. Y". And I keep thinking to myself, "what the heck is S. B. Y.....I hope I'm not listening to or singing something crude". So I haven't let my children listen to it because I haven't been sure what S.B.Y. meant. So today I finally remembered to ask Todd if he knew what S.B.Y. meant and I told him that it was on this song. His first question, "are you sure you're singing the right words". I confidently told him that I knew I was singing the right words. So he looked up the song on the internet and found the lyrics and here they are:

"I'm fly, no lie

I'm the truth

Baby ask me why"(not S.B.Y)

pass the pigs

My sister-in-law, Tara, blogged about this game a long time ago. I finally came across it in Target at the beginning of the summer and we've been addicted ever since. Thanks Tara!

It's rare to find a game that everyone in the family can play. With "Pass the Pigs" you don't have to play with teams to include the little ones and it is really short(or long if you play several rounds) when you don't have much time. We have been playing it almost every night before the girls go to bed. It's a great incentive for the girls to hurry and get ready for bed, get their teeth brushed, etc.

Brenna is convinced that she always gets a "pig out" and she does.

Eliza roars with laughter no matter whats going on. And she shakes the pigs in her hands before she tosses them on the table as if it's going to make a difference in the outcome.

Emma Grace chants "20, 20, 20" before almost every roll. We need to teach her to chant "big money, big money".

It's really simple but brings out a ton of laughs! So I highly recommend this game!!

banana bread

This recipe came from Lisa Lambert who is the resident expert on yummy breads. She makes a delicious zucchini bread and pumpkin bread as well. We love it when one of her children shows up at the door with a warm loaf of bread to deliver. It's gone in about 3 minutes around here! She says that these recipes come out of the Lion House cookbooks. Thanks Lisa!!

Banana Bread
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed bananas(the more ripe, the sweeter)
1/4 cup milk
splash of vanilla(Lisa added this to the Lion House recipe)
1 tsp lemon juice
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Add bananas, milk, lemon juice and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and add.
4 small loaf pans (2/3 full). Bake 350 for 25 minutes. My cooking time is always a good 5 minutes or so longer than this. I think it may be because I use the pampered chef stoneware small loaf pans. So just watch the bread and make sure it is bake all the way through.


You really don't NEED icing on banana bread for heaven's sakes but it's awfully yummy and my kids love it(imagine that). Butter on banana bread right out of the oven is just as good if not better.

Cream Cheese Icing
1 - 8 oz package cream cheese (softened)
1/4 cup butter (softened)
2 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Mix all ingredients together. Put icing in a ziploc bag. Cut a very small corner off and pipe the icing onto the top of the bread. I added some milk to this recipe so that it wasn't so thick and would come out of the bag easier.

eliza's 1st day of dance

Eliza has been so excited to begin dance classes like her big sisters. She is taking a combination class of ballet, tap, and gymnastics and she had a great first day! There is something really wonderful about the newness of something and I hope it takes a long time for dance to become "old".
It's this "newness" that I really enjoy watching over and over again in all of my children. So far I've gotten to relive the first day of dance 3 times in my life. I never bore of seeing my children discover new things from a dance class to watching a ladybug or eating an ice cream cone. It makes motherhood wonderful each day!

after school snack

I love this picture. It's the face that says, "I'm not real happy about this snack, Mom".

"get ready sticks"

This is such a simple little thing to do and it's working great!!

I found this little idea on the make and take blog about a month ago. We've been using it since the girls started school and I've saved myself so much misery during the morning time routine. The girls actually carry their sticks around and when they complete it they come and put it in the jar upside down. Once all of their sticks are back in the jar and no color is showing then they are done getting ready for school. As with all other great ideas, I'm sure this one will only last so long and then we'll have to come up with something else to motivate them. But for right now it's working great and I don't have to tell them every five minutes what to do next to get ready for school. Oh...the joy I feel when Emma Grace is putting on her shoes and socks and I never said a word.

Each child has their own color. Even Charlie has sticks but they just say "Charlie".

Here are the things that are written on our sticks:

-make bed

-clean room

-get dressed

-put pajamas away

-eat breakfast/DISHES

-brush teeth

-shoes & socks

-fix hair

-fill water bottle

my favorite recipes

Look what I just found at the check out stand at Safeway! Just last week I explained on one of my posts how the recipes from Southern Living magazines were my favorite. I'm so excited to start looking through here and finding some yummy new recipes.

our table

I hate when a project takes so long that by the time you're done you're over it. But I've been waiting to finish this project for a year so I could blog about it. So here goes!

I found this door in my neighbors bulk trash early one morning last August. I went back to our house and pulled Todd out of bed to have him come and help me get it. Todd was mortified that we were pulling something out of someones trash. My motto is, "one woman's trash is another woman's treasure". I was so excited! I had the top for my new table!!

Our old table was so trashed and old. It came from the clearance "scratch and dent" section of Costco five years ago for $150.00.

We didn't really have the money to buy a new table and I was getting anxious. The door sat in my garage for several months until the weather started cooling down. Then I had to convince my husband to succor a friend(Bill) in to helping him make the table skirt and legs. That took until November. The table was finally made then I had to find time to paint it. Well, now it was the holidays so the table was at the bottom of the list. When January came, I finally got all of the painting done and called someone to come and measure the table for a piece of glass to go on top. Now we had the table in the house!

This is a picture of Todd and Bill putting the legs on the table after they had just built the legs and the skirt of the table.

This picture shows the detail of the old door.

The next part of the problem were the old chairs. After being at my sisters(Miralyn) house last summer, she convinced me that benches around the table were the way to go. I was so tired of having bulky chairs in such a small space. So now I had to convince Todd to succor a friend(Bill) into helping him make benches.

Months went by and there was never time. Three days after Todd was released from his calling in the Bishopric, I asked him if he was done making those benches yet. It took a few more weeks but they finally were done. Then it took us several more weeks to finally get out there to paint them.

Any outside project in the summer months in Arizona is miserable so it's easy to put it off. The benches are finally done. We love our new table that fits our space perfectly!! No chairs in the way...hurray!

I wasnt' sure how I would like having glass on my kitchen table. I thought maybe it would be a little "cheesy". But now I think it is the greatest and most practical thing for a family with kids ever! It's so easy to keeps clean. You don't have to worry about the wood finish! Love it!

Total estimated cost of my low budget new kitchen table and benches:
table top= free
4 table legs= $20.00 ($5.00 each)
wood for table skirt= $10.00
paint for table= $10.00
wood for benches= $30.00
paint for benches= $5.00
glass top= $100.00


Estimated Total= $175.00

do you like "time-out"?

The other day Eliza asked me, "Do you like your house?". I told her I did. Then she asked, "Do you like time-out in your house?". I replied by saying, "Well, not really!". Without missing a beat she quickly said, "you better get rid of it then!". I told her I thought we better keep it and she wanted to know why. I explained to her that it helps kids to have time to themselves and think about how they can act better.

She's so funny! She comes up with things like this all the time and keeps me on my toes. I asked her if I could tell about this on my blog and she agreed. So I had her pose in our "time-out" for a picture. She was trying to make a sad face for me.

dessert kabobs

This is a fun and easy treat that the kiddos can put together. This is what we did for our FHE treat tonight. Everybody loved them.
Here is what you need:
strawberries
large marshmellows
Sara Lee frozen pound cake
semi-sweet chocolate chips
kabob sticks

Wash the strawberries and cut off the tops. Cut the cake into 1 inch squares. Have the kids put all of the treats on the stick. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or on the stove. Lay the kabobs on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Drizzle with chocolate. Put in the refrigerator for the chocolate to set.

get the woogies out

The other day I walked into the bathroom where Eliza was "getting the woogies out" in front of the mirror. I have no idea really what it means to get the woogies out! But it was very funny to see Eliza dancing and singing, "get the woogies out, get the woogies out, get the woogies out". So funny! Since then we all can't keep from singing the silly tune! But we leave the dancing to Eliza and Emma Grace.

king ranch chicken casserole

What's for dinner tonight?
My favorite magazine is "Southern Living". 85% of my recipes come from there and I love their decorating ideas. I love southern style living!! This recipe is listed as one of their most popular and favorite chicken cassoroles. And I agree completely! It's one of our favorites. Todd asks me to make it all the time. So you won't regret trying it!
To simplify the recipe a little bit, don't worry about cooking a whole chicken with celery and carrots, although that is awesome. Just use chicken breasts(maybe put your carrots and celery in there) and then use a can of chicken broth.

Ingredients
1 (4 1/2- to 5-lb. ) whole chicken

2 celery ribs, cut into 3 pieces each

2 carrots, cut into 3 pieces each

2 1/2 to 3 tsp. salt

2 tablespoons butter

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium-size green bell pepper, chopped

1 garlic clove, pressed

1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of mushroom soup

1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of chicken soup

2 (10-oz.) cans diced tomatoes and green chiles, drained

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon Mexican-style chili powder*

3 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese

12 (6-inch) fajita-size corn tortillas, cut into 1/2-inch strips

Preparation

1. If applicable, remove giblets from chicken, and reserve for another use. Rinse chicken.

2. Place chicken, celery, carrots, and salt in a large Dutch oven with water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 50 minutes to 1 hour or until chicken is done. Remove from heat. Remove chicken from broth; cool 30 minutes. Remove and reserve 3/4 cup cooking liquid. Strain any remaining cooking liquid, and reserve for another use.
3. Preheat oven to 350°. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 6 to 7 minutes or until tender. Add bell pepper and garlic, and sauté 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in reserved 3/4 cup cooking liquid, cream of mushroom soup, and next 5 ingredients. Cook, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes.

4. Skin and bone chicken; shred meat into bite-size pieces. Layer half of chicken in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Top with half of soup mixture and 1 cup Cheddar cheese. Cover with half of corn tortilla strips. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining 1 cup cheese.

5. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes to 1 hour or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

*1 tsp. chili powder and 1/8 tsp. ground red pepper may be substituted for Mexican-style chili powder.

first day of school

Brenna 4th grade

Emma Grace 1st grade

We got there in Todd and Brenna style....20 minutes early. It was so hot that everyone was drenched in sweat. I really needed to just come home and shower again but I'll wait until after all of my housework is done.
Brenna and Emma Grace were both so anxious and excited. They were a little nervous of course but they were able to calm themselves down pretty good. Only one visit to the bathroom!

Anyway, now I'm home with just half of my kiddos and my mind is racing with all of the things I'm going to do today with two less children to worry with.

I will miss them today and can't wait to see them this afternoon.

bran muffins

bran muffins

You may want to half this recipe. It's huge!

2 cups boiling water
5 tsp baking soda
1 cup shortening(I've tried making it with butter and they are just not the same so I've never even gone the route of applesauce for all you really healthy wonderful people...wink, wink...Michelle!)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 quart buttermilk
5 cups flour
1 tsp salt
4 cups All Bran Cereal
2 cups Bran Flakes Cereal

Directions:

Add soda to boiling water and set aside. Whip shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs slowly. Mix well. Add the buttermilk, flour, salt and mix again. Add the soda water very slowly. Gently fold in the cereals.

Muffin mix MUST sit in the refrigerator over night before baking. The next morning just stir the muffin mix around to combine all of the cereal into the batter. Bake at 350 for 23 minutes. Muffin mix will last one week, covered and refrigerated.

I love making the full recipe and having them warm for breakfast for several mornings in a row. They are best smothered in butter. Gosh, we are just the picture of health around here. I also like to mix raspberries in the batter. Just bake them for a couple of minutes longer. Yum!

chewy granola bars

Chewy Granola Bars
2 1/2 c quick rolled oats
1/2 c rice krispies
1/4 c coconut
1/2 c mini chocolate chips
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c butter, softened
1/4 c honey
1/2 tsp vanilla
Add all of the ingredients and mix together until combined. Press into a square 8x8 pan.
Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and score into bars.
Let it set completely and then cut into bars.

pioneer crafts

Here is a little miniture handcart for children who are a little bit older.
Supply list:
1 small jewelry box
1 small piece of twine
4 wheels(craft store wood section)
1 barrel(craft store wood section)
3 boxes(craft store wood section)
small square fabric pieces for "blankets"
1 miniture popcicle stick
glue
paint

This is a cute little pioneer necklace for younger children.

Supplies:

1 dowel rod (cut into pieces, drill a hole, lightly sand each piece so the children don't get splinters)

twine

paint

letter stamps

black ink

pioneer day

We celebrated our Pioneer Heritage this year by taking a small pioneer trek around a local nature preserve. We had stories, music, games, crafts, and food. I feel so strongly that I want my children to learn about their heritage and always remember their ancestors. It was so wonderful to reflect upon the lives of wonderful people who sacrificed so much so that we could have the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives today. To learn more about the journey of the Mormon Pioneers go to our church website.
Here are a few fun pictures showing how much fun we had.


Yep, Missy even got to go!
That's Brenna's good friend Holly with us.

fun in flagstaff...

We went on a little family "get-away" to Flagstaff last weekend. It's unbelievable that the weather can be so nice just two hours from here. We enjoyed every "outside" moment. We hiked, played on the playground, swam, oh heck we just stood outside and dreamed of the other eight months in Arizona.

So we stayed in this great condo that was just remodeled and owned by Todd's previous employer. They were so nice and gracious to let us use it! The back of the condo looked out onto a golf course. The girls didn't think that was all that great! They kept making comments like, "why don't they go golf somewhere else?". They just couldn't understand why in the world they couldn't play on that nice open space of green grass.

Here I am handing over the "goods" to Todd...if I had only gotten to Boardwalk first!

The condo was stocked with every classic game you can think of. Brenna really wanted to play Monopoly. Who knew that Todd and I would actually get into it. Todd won both nights that we played while torturing Brenna and me. At times Brenna and I thought we had him but in the end we turned all of our money and property over to him.

Very close to the condo was a really great playground, a swimming pool, and some really cute bridges that I could have taken pictures at all day if my children would have indulged me. I'm trying to take better pictures. So I've been doing some practicing. I need to go to some workshops. I feel like my pictures have really been lacking the past several years and I need to figure it out!!


So here are a few that I thought turned out pretty good while the children were cooperating a little bit.