And I'm Back

Yes!  We're alive!  Wow has there been a lot a lot a lot happen since I last posted.

Well, here are the highlights:

• Wonderful family vacations: Bear Lake and Cabin
• New Teacher
• We're pregnant!  Tell no one :) and :(
• Sick with sympathetic first graders
• First Dr. appointment and ultrasound
• First parent teacher conferences
• Announcing the baby to the kids and other school people
• Meeting with Midwives
• Our missionary brother 
• Thanksgiving 
• First baby kicks
• Black Friday and allergies
• Josh's large prints in gallery!
• Losing kids and gaining new ones
• Christmas giving (and winning!)
• Christmas tree and LEDs
• Baby bump picture at halfway

There you go! Pictures and details to follow.

数独 Sudoku

Josh, loving a good challenge, and really enjoying his programming class, has taken on the mission of getting 100% and exemption from the final by creating a C++ program that completely solves any Sudoku puzzle it is given.  And his teacher has informed them that the last test for their program is the most difficult Sudoku known to man!!!  
So, this turned out to be a challenge that I was glad to be a part of because I like Sudoku, too.
Here are some pics of the "Day of Sudoku" I ended up obsessing over yesterday.  :)  It was really fun.

PS I do show the solution to said difficult-est Sudoku puzzle, so if you care not to know it, please avert your eyes.  There are also some challenges I came up with for myself.  See if you can do it, too!!

Challenge #1: Can you solve the "World's hardest" Sudoku?  . . . without guessing?

Josh and I did do it . . . which makes me think that it isn't the "world's hardest."  But who am I to judge?

Challenge #2:  Create your own board, starting with nothing.  I tried it once (began with 1-9 along the first row, then filled in the numbers one at a time...).  Next time, I think I'll fill in a box of 9 with 1-9 and see how that goes.  Happy Puzzling!

What Are Words?

Indeed.  "What are words if you really don't mean them when you say them?"  These are the beginning words of the chorus of Chris Medina's song, "What Are Words."  Even though I don't follow American Idol, this story really touched me when I heard about it and I wanted to share, for those who aren't into the AI scene.  This song was specially written for Chris because after his fiance got in a car accident, resulting in traumatic brain injury, he decided to marry her and stay with her.  His devotion and heart are evident in this beautiful ballad.  It makes me think of how precious our marriage relationships are, how we commit to each other for ever and ever, through the good times and the harder times.  Forever and Ever, No Matter What.

Anywhere you are I am near.
Anywhere you go, I’ll be there.
Anytime you whisper my name, you’ll see
How every single promise I’ll keep
Cuz, what kind of guy would I be
If I was to leave when you need me most?

What are words
If you really don’t mean them when you say them?
What are words
If they’re only for good times then that’s all?
When it’s love, yeah, you say them out loud
Those words, they never go away;
They live on, even when we’re gone.

And I know an angel was sent just for me.
And I know I’m meant to be where I am.
And I’m gonna be
Standing right beside her tonight.

And I’m gonna be by her side;
I would never leave when she needs me most.

What are words
If you really don’t mean them when you say them?
What are words If they’re only for good times then that’s all?
When it’s love, yeah, you say them out loud
Those words, they never go away;
They live on, even when we’re gone.

Anywhere you are I am near.
Anywhere you go, I’ll be there.
And I’m gonna be here forever more.
Every single promise I’ll keep
Cuz, what kind of guy would I be
If I was to leave when you need me most?

I’m forever keeping my angel close.

Mommies

My appetite for reading has been insatiable lately.  For the last week, I've been devouring Jerry Spinelli, author of Maniac Magee, Loser, Smiles To Go, The Library Card, Stargirl, and more.  I love reading.  I love reading his books in particular because of the blaring, yet, between-the-lines messages he sews in.  One in particular I wanted to comment on because of the way my heart ached when I read.  The main message of the entire book, Library Card, is the magical transforming power of a book, but the additional message about mommies really struck me today.


Sonseray is a troubled teenager, destructive to property, unthankful, seemingly unwanted, wearing his uncle into the ground as they move in a broken down car from town to town in search of a new place where they can start over ... again.  Anywhere they go, he is always searching.  He goes to malls because he knows there he will find what he is sniffing out.  Mothers.  He hates the smug kids who ungratefully and unknowingly take advantage of their mothers, "Here, hold this."  He has a keen ear for the scolding and reprimanding mother.  He loves to hear it.  It is what mothers do who love their children.  He wishes he had a mother who would scold him ... and then into who's arms he could run.

I almost cried in this part of the book.  Children need mommies!  Adults need mommies!  I know I need mine!  How cold the world is becoming because moms aren't choosing to be the mom and because of those moms that aren't moms yet are refusing to become so.  This may not make much sense.  I'm referring to the article referenced by my friend Becca in her blog.  After referring to an article, she lovingly and boldly stands up for mothers who are choosing to sacrifice self for their children and for humanity.  I applaud her and all mothers, all women.  For we are all mothers; it is our divine gift as women, have we children or none.

On a lighter note, remember the all-too-true cry of little Maggie, as she's being carried by her father, Peter Pan, safely away from the dreaded pirate Captain Hook, "You need a mother very very badly!!"

We cannot abandon our children to the world's pirate cry of Save Your Self.

Wedding Weekend!

This weekend, my best friend Jess got married to her sweety, Darrell.  I'm so grateful to my own sweety who looked up how long it would take to drive to Lake Tahoe, showing that we could make it to her wedding for just 12 hours on the road.  The wedding was beautiful, full of loving looks and giddy giggles and happy tears.  I'm so glad she found such a wonderfully kind and strong man.  She just posted today (as Jessica Moyers (!!)) that she  "is perfectly and incandescently happy" and I am thrilled for her!

They had a simple luncheon with delicious food and lively conversation :), and yummy wedding cake for dessert.  The wedding was on some charming stone steps in a beautiful wooded area.  And then, with a few pictures and happy well-wishes for the newly-weds, we said goodbye.  Sadly they only had the next day for a honeymoon before they had to report back to Intelligence School (Air Force) in Texas, but now they are together and that makes going back to work so much sweeter.

Josh was able to snap a few pictures of the cake, the cutting of the cake, the sparkling apple cider (in all three colors!) for the best man's toast, and beautiful Jess (beautifully married, smiling with her flower-girl niece).  I was so glad I was able to be there with her!  Congrats Jess and Darrell!

Gone Fishin'

Josh Fly Fishing on the Warm River near Ashton, ID

We have had such a fun time with Mom and Dad McKinney this weekend!  They drove 27+ hours from Louisville to visit for a couple of weeks and we got first dibs!  We had fun around campus, running into old friends from "Ricks," having campfires, watching movies, and FISHING!  Of course fishing!  Dad and Josh had so much fun fishing the Warm River and Confluence and Mom and I had fun reading, talking and enjoying the rainy foresty atmosphere from the dry car :).  The keeper-size fish was caught at the end of the day, but Dad and Josh just missed getting a picture of it.  But it was THIS big!  (About 17 inches long ... for real!)

Josh and his Dad bonding

Happy one-year-and-a-half !

 

Concentrating hard on those little flies

Mom and Dad McKinney at Warm River Springs

What's for dinner?

So, I don't have very good ideas for dinners, but others do, so I thought I'd ask my friends ...
Whoever wants to post, please chime in with any of your ideas!  

I want to pull the recipe ideas and start posting them here.

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Favorites * color indicates that the recipe is found below

Fried chicken and potatoes

Tacos

Breakfast--french toast, biscuits & gravy

Moo Bing (Thai pork shish-kabob)

Pulled Pork
Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken
Summer Salad Delight
Broccoli Bacon Salad
Savory Vegetable Beef Stew
Alton Brown's Baked potatoes-
Tortellini Salad

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Recipes

Moo Bing (Thai pork shish-kabob)
makes 4 servings--can be served as a meal with veggies, etc, or just as a snack 

• 2 lbs pork --cut into thin disks about 1 inch diameter
• 1 Tbsp Maggi sauce -- 
• 4 tsp ketchup--
• 1.2 Tbsp garlic --about 4 cloves smashed
• 1/2 tsp salt -- Maggi sauce is very salty also, so this is just for tenderizing and texture
• 1 Tbsp sweetened condensed milk

Marinate the pork in concoction for a while... as little as 20 minutes to as long as a few hours.
Weave pork onto skewers and barbeque for about 10 minutes, but not too long as to loose the juices.
Serve with sticky rice and barbequed veggies (red, yellow, green bell peppers and onions).

Pulled Pork
You can't mess this one up!  It's so easy!

• Get any kind of pork (roast is what I've done it with), bone in or out...just the cheapest is fine.
• Marinate in crock pot for many hours with water in the bottom of the pot.   (I cooked it on low for 6 hours then flipped it over and let it cook for another 6 to make even more tender).
• Pull out all the tender pieces into a container
• Leave the bones and fat in the water left over in the crock pot and cook for another many hours and collect to make into gravy later (you could serve the pulled pork on buns with mashed potatoes and gravy!)
• Cover with your favorite BBQ sauce (ours is KC Masterpiece) and enjoy!

Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken
By: C. PEREZ

Serves 4

(click picture to be able to change serving number!)

• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
•  
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 3 tablespoons lime juice

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix together salt, black pepper, cayenne, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, onion powder, thyme and parsley. Sprinkle spice mixture generously on both sides of chicken breasts.
2. Heat butter and olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken until golden brown, about 6 minutes on each side. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons garlic powder and lime juice. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently to coat evenly with sauce.

Summer Spinach Salad Delight

Malorie's recipe, compliments of Mom McKinney


Spinach (a lot!)
1/2 red onion chopped
1 pkg. feta
2-3 oranges (sliced in circles, then in bite sized pieces)
2-3 tomatoes (sliced in circles, then in bite sized pieces)
8 slices thick cut bacon (reserve 3 T. fat)
2/3 c. fresh chopped basil
1/2 tsp. dried dijon mustard
3 T. red wine vinegar
Salt, Pepper to taste
Olive Oil
Sugar

*Prep oranges, tomatoes and onion
*Cook bacon and pat dry. (reserve fat)
* In skillet on low heat fat and add vinegar, mustard, pinch of salt and pepper
*Put dressing in container. Add Olive Oil (as much as you want) and Sugar to taste(about 1 tsp.) 
*Add additional salt and pepper if needed.


Layer (2 or 3 layers) spinach, then chopped basil, crumbled feta, bacon and onion.

Add oranges and tomatoes when you are about to serve.
Add dressing at the last second. (warm a little before serving if needed)
OR Reserve the oranges, tomatoes and dressing in separate bowls for freshness in your leftovers!


Tip:  The fat from the bacon if cools it'll leave a film on the food, but if too hot wilts the spinach.
Addition:  We cooked up the rest of the bacon for later.  We cooked four small pieces of chicken in the bacon grease, with some mustard powder and salt and pepper to add more protein to the entree :).


Broccoli Bacon Salad
Mom Bowen

Broccoli (cut into bite-sized pieces) 
Bacon (cooked, crumbled)
Red onion (1/2)
Sunflower Seeds
Raisins
Dressing:
1/2 c mayo
1/4 c sugar
1 tbsp vinegar

Mix and enjoy!


Savory Vegetable Beef Stew
6 servings (click the picture to change serving size!)

By: Lynn Franklin 

"I've been cooking since I was 10 years old. One day, I plan to own a bed-and-breakfast inn. I look forward to the challenge of cooking for my future guests."

Doesn't she sound charming?

1 1/2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
3 Tbsp Italian salad dressing
1 cup water
1 tsp beef bouillon granules
1/2 of a10.5 oz. can condensed beef broth, undiluted
      (for the granules and canned, together, I just used two bouillon cubes in 3/4 cup water )
1/2 of a 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 of an 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1/2 garlic clove, minced
1/2 bay leaf
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp pepper
4 small potatoes, quartered (I used more than that and red potatoes :)
3 medium carrots, cut into 1 in. pieces (I used lots of baby carrots cut in half length wise)
1/2 medium green bell pepper, cut into 1/2 in pieces
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 Tbsp & 1 1/2 tsp all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp & 1 1/2 tsp all-purpose cold water


Directions: In a Dutch oven (I just used a large skillet and then transfered to a crock-pot for the simmering), brown meat in salad dressing over medium heat.  Add the next 10 ingredients; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours (transfer to crock pot on high for 1-1/2 hours) or until meat is tender.  Add the potatoes, carrots, green pepper and onion.  Cover and simmer for 4 minutes or until vegetables are tender (it took mine more like 1-1/2 hours on high in the crock-pot to get those carrots just right). In a separate bowl, combine flour and cold water until smooth; stir into stew.  Bring to a boil (good luck in the crock pot); cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Discard bay leaf before serving.  DELICIOUS!!

Alton Brown's Baked potatoes-

(Click the pic or the LINK below for more great ideas for healthy eaters)

Stab the heck out of your potato. Rub potato with olive oil and sprinkle kosher salt all over the outside. Stick it in the oven (skip the aluminum foil and baking sheet) at 400 degrees for about an hour. When it's done you should be able to pop it like a... er... zit? The olive oil and salt makes the skin kinda crunchy and salty and delicious. No more rubbery potatoes!

Tortellini Salad

by Moma Bowen

1 9oz pkg fresh cheese tortellini

1 10oz frozen sugar snap peas thawed (or fresh)

4 tsp olive oil

2 tbsp white basalmic vinegar (or regular black)

4 tbsp grated parmessan cheese

1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes halved (or whole grape tomatoes)

1/4 finely chopped red onion

2 tbsp capers, rinsed and drained (tiny round dark green balls, in jar, by pickles in store)

black pepper

Cook tortellini according to package, (add peas last two minutes...mom doesn't like that...just fresh), drain and cool; add to all the veggies.

In a bowl, oil and 2 out of 4 tbsp parmessan, and vinegar...toss into the tortellini with the veggies -- can add into a "spring mix" lettuce salad (or romaine or spinach); sprinkle parmessan & pepper & serve

Aunt Phyllis' Magnificent Cheese Ball

By: Natalie K. 

"This recipe is fantastic! Every time I take it somewhere, people ask me for the recipe. For the cheese sprinkle, you can use 1/2 of an envelope of dry cheese mix from a macaroni and cheese boxed mix, if you'd like!"

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tablespoon instant Cheddar cheese sauce mix (I did use the half of mac n' cheese dry cheese package:)
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts to taste (I left these off completely; otherwise I think I'd go with sliced almonds instead)
• (I maybe would add a little garlic salt or garlic powder...haven't tried it yet, though)

Directions
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, blend cream cheese and butter or margarine. Stir in cheese sprinkle, Cheddar cheese, green onion, lemon juice and parsley. Shape mixture into 2 large balls or logs, and roll them in the chopped walnuts. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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Websites


http://www.irocksowhat.com/search/label/Food
     Alton Brown's Baked potatoes-

http://masterpiecemeals.blogspot.com/

allrecipes.com
     Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken
     Savory Vegetable Beef Stew

Kraftfoods.com

Tastykitchen.com

Foodgawker.com

Delish.com

Happy Cooking!

Look what the Post Man brought me!

Oh, hello!!!  What can Josh NOT fit inside of?  It's a riddle few can solve...

Can I come out now?

Ahhh!  Man overboard!  Falling overly skinny packaging!

Is it safe??

Surprise!!!!!  You mean you wish to surrender to me?  Very well, I accept. :)

Email Notification of New Posts

Just added a feature to the side bar allowing anyone to get email notifications when I post something new.


I wanted to make sure I knew how it worked, so I signed myself up first.  Let me know how it goes if you want to participate!

Ben's Graduated!!

Congratulations to my li'l brother, Ben.  He graduated with honors from Sky View on Tuesday.  I just look up to him so much... (ok, I literally look up to everyone in my family...except maybe Heidi and Mom who are a little more my height, but, I digress...).  Ben is one of the most amazing young men you will ever meet.  Besides his amazing saxaphone skills (classical and sa-weet! jazz), intense piano composing and playing, smart brain in both areas of math and english, he is also very tender-hearted in recognizing and meeting the needs of others.  For example, he has heard his whole life how much us girls like to go to these school dances all dressed up and feeling pretty.  He has always enjoyed dancing with us and has developed that skills very finely.  But, month after month of school dance after school dance, he was not really wanting to go to another dance!  Oh, they were fun and all, but what was the big deal?  He told Mom once (I hope he doesn't mind), that he could live very happily and not go to one dance his whole high school career.  Well, after Mom explained that he could probably live a happy life without going, but to the girls, these things are really important.  Why? he asked.  Because they get to look, be treated like, and feel like the princesses that they are for one night.  And Mom added that especially for Senior Prom was it important to ask the senior girls so they don't have to sit at home while the boys all ask the younger girls to go.  Well, I don't think Ben ever complained after that (not that he went to every boy's choice ... though I'm pretty sure he was asked to every girl's choice dance).  And having the end of his high school days coming, and having many of his friends being senior girls, he did something that we all really admire him for.  He asked all his buddies to be in his Prom group and to ask a certain girl to go with them, so that every one of his girl-friends would be able to enjoy their last high school formal.  They had a great time, and Mom heroically fed all 14 of them when they came to our house for dinner in their gorgeous gowns and spiffy suits.  Don't they look great?

On Tuesday, Ben graduated.  He played the most soulful jazz solo I've heard from him yet during the Jazz Band's number. He even wore his Fedora.  When they started their walk, I thought it was really neat how the whole class did a clap (just one) after every person's name was read.  What a great class.  The ceremony was held early enough in the evening that we still had daylight!  So, we were able to take a few pics.

Class of 2011

Josh, Becky, Heidi, Ben, Jennifer, Michelle, Mom, Sydney

Mom, Ben, and Dad

"And now it's my turn!  Take a picture of me" Heidi! :)

In all his tallness

What a cute boy!

No wonder he has scores of girls always hanging around him!  

Here's lookin' at you, kid.

We LOVE you Ben!