It's Not As Bad As It Seems!

Don't think that I am an online shopaholic (maybe partial), but I just like to find deals that are cheap for off season clothes and stuff. I just wanted to share some of the cute stuff I bought. The boy clothes are my FAV just because I am not used to buying little boy stuff, and I have always loved little boy clothes. These pics don't do justice. The little ties are SO cute (only $2.99 from Childrens Place)! I love them! I bought cute cardigans, pj's etc... for G & A, but I didn't want to bore you too much!

Button Bouquet

Why is my text underlined, and a different color? Oh well, whatever! If I don't stop looking online at cute things I am going to start annoying myself , let alone all you fellow people that are actually bored enough to check on my little section of humanity. When I finally get around to painting my girls room I want to buy this button bouquet. You can custom order certain colors too. Or buy more "stems" to make it look better. Just another cute thing I found......

Veggie Hats

Have you ever seen anything so unique? I found these online. I can't remember the site so if you really want one comment to me and I will look it up again. She makes all kinds of hats. These are the apple and tomato hats. She does pears, garlic cloves, raspberries, pumpkins, strawberries (way cute), etc.... I want to buy some for my kids. Every time I show Ryan something cute he's all "You're not buying it are you?" Guilt trip or what? LOL! They are $15.00 which really isn't bad considering the time they take and how cool they are. I don't know maybe I am easily impressed, but I think they are adorable.

Wyoming 2005

I decided to scrapblog a trip that we took THREE YEARS AGO! Yea, it's that bad! I had to add that hair to Gracie on the last page. I thought her smile warranted some wacky hair.

Lemon Fruit Dip

This is my last ditch attempt to keep up with posting one recipe a week. I try to do it every Tue., but I was still in rehab on Tue. so I will do it today. It is small cause I need to run to Walmart before the after school rush!

Ingredients:
1 cup cold milk
1 package (3.4 ounces) instant lemon pudding mix
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
assorted fresh fruit (we used strawberries and mango)

Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Whisk in sour cream. Chill until serving. Serve with fruit.

Mr. Pig

Gracie planted grass in this pig cup at preschool. It only took a few days to sprout, which is a good thing for young, impatient children. We have already had to give him a "haircut" cause it was so long it was flopping all over the place. I think this is a CUTE project idea for kids. I have seen the animal cups at Walmart.

7a.m and I'M BACK!!!

I survived my week long torture fest! Which actually wasn't too bad because I have another project I am working on (which I will post about shortly). I'm sure you're incredibly surprised that my first post is about Breck...lol! The top pics are him eating his first food...rice cereal. He is not impressed. The video is him eating bananas yesterday. I probably sound stupid on it, but that's typical! Enjoy.

I'm Heading To Rehab :-(

Ryan is convinced that I am addicted to blogging. I decided to prove him wrong (typical behavior on my part) so I am heading to Blogaholics Anonymous, which will be a one week course. It will basically consist of me not blogging for ONE week and instead hitting my homework harder, all the while exhibiting the telltale symptoms of withdrawal: sweating, night tremors, hallucinating etc.... If I make it through I will be back next Thursday! Wish me luck!

By The Way....

Per load, those haul trucks make roughly $40,000. With all the copper, moly, gold etc...that they sift out of it!!! They each do about 20-30 loads per shift. ONE tire costs roughly 6-7,ooo! It looks like they could afford to give Ryan a raise!!! :-) In less, of course, too many people are blowing out tires! LOL

Can You Imagine?!

I got some mail from Ryan's work. It had this picture on it. Ryan always used to tell Bobbie (before she started school) to go drive a haul truck!! Can you imagine! Look at the little guy by the tire. No wonder every time he tells Spencer to put in his app. to drive a haul truck Spencer says he's not sure if he could drive it! There are woman that drive them though, but can you imagine. I would die laughing if I saw Bobbie up there driving this thing. I'm glad Ryan is inside now, and not sharing the same road with these things when he is up there.

Sneaking In A Post

Ryan took the girls for the day so I can do my homework. I finished Cardiology and am going to learn about the Endocrine system next. But I had to sneak in a post between taking Breck to the doc and eating lunch. Before I brag again, I just have to say one of the reasons blogging seems kind of lame to me is of course everyone is going to tell all the good and hardly any bad on there blog. SO just so you know before you start thinking I am one of those "Idealistic Bloggers" Ryan and I DO indeed bite each others heads off now and again, or often, however you want to look at it; I DO yell at my kids, on what has been lately, a daily basis, and I am SIXTEEN lbs bigger then I was when Ryan and I were married. So see, there you have it. I just didn't want you guys thinking that I am a "see how perfect my life is" blogger! LOL! But on to bragging..LOL..I took Breck to the doctor today for his 4 month check. That time flew! He was talking up a storm to the doc. The nurse came in to give him his shots and he didn't even cry for the first one! I couldn't believe my ears! I was like, "What the heck was that?" And then he cried for .2 seconds for the other three shots, and then sat there after and acted all goo goo eyed and smiled at the nurse. What is up with this happy little boy of mine? I am so blessed! Of course, at his two month check he screamed bloody murder when they were weighing him, and the doctor was dead serious and said he has NEVER heard a baby with such a high-pitched scream and that he is going to be an opera singer.

14.6 lbs.
25 1/2 inches

Gracie The Artist

Jackie bought Gracie this book from Lindy's Usborne party. I thought that was sweet, and it is perfect for Gracie. She was drawing really good circles like a year ago. Maybe, once again, I am just biased, but it seems like she was doing really well for her age (again every mother's thoughts). Anyway she has had so much fun drawing things. The top two are a lion and a cat and the bottom (blue) is a dolphin and bottom (yellow) is a lizard. She LOVES to do it! So anyway if you ever go to an Usborne party this is a good pick. Thanks Coa!

Crazy Luck!

OK first and foremost I wanted to share some CUTE pics of my kids. Of course every mother is SO BIASED about her kids. I know I am! Anyway my Breck is just a handsome devil though. I mean maybe it's just me, but I think he is! He is just getting so big! A couple months ago we tried to get our camera to take a family picture before church and the battery went dead as we were all sitting there smiling :-( Ryan was still in his pj's by the time we were all dressed today so I had him take the picture this time instead. Don't mind my bra hanging out of my cardigan! I bought those CUTE headbands from this place called Sweat Pea Boutique in town. They have a TON! Some of my friends in the ward make them though, just as cute, so I need to get together with them sometime. You can take off the bow part and use it alone or put it on a different colored head band. I told Ryan, after going there and seeing all those cute hair things, I have to have another girl if it takes 10 tries! Are that many C-sections possible? :-) Anyway on to church. So I was supposed to teach the lesson today and have known about it since January. I printed up a ton of cute things for the lesson. It was on 'The Priesthood Can Bless Families.' Well just as sacrament meeting is about to end somebody pulled the fire alarm. When that happens you are just supposed to go home. So long story longer, I got out of giving the lesson until August, BUT I prepared for nothing. At least I learned a bit more about the priesthood. I was even going to tell them all about Trev and how many priesthood blessings he has received. Oh well!

Oh CRAP! I'm raising a dog!

I promised I wouldn't write today. I have to teach YW's tomorrow in front of the whole YW's group, and I should really be honing that lesson up.

Ava came upstairs naked and plopped on my computer chair to watch her video on my blog for the millionth time.
Mom: "Ava where are your jammas?"
Ava: "I pooped"
Mom: "WHAT?" As I simultaneously throw Ava off the chair to reveal her huge skid marks!!!
Mom: "Don't move"
I will spare you the ranting and raving that went on after that. Let's just say that I went down stairs trying to find her loaded diaper and instead found an unloaded diaper and a log on my floor!!! I was under the impression that I gave birth to a little girl 2 1/2 years ago, but I am beginning to believe it was an animal! I then loaded the kids in the van (no small feat) to go to the post office to pick up my mail (which is a whole other story in and of itself, but I won't go there considering my family founded the P.O); Gracie and Ava wanted to go in with me and I told them no since I parked right by the front door and it would take two seconds. On my way in I read a sign that said "No dogs allowed except for those assisting the blind or disabled." I had to laugh. I guess I had good reason for leaving Ava out in the car! The joys of motherhood! I am going to look at the positive side and think that this is a sign that she is ready to toilet train. She has already went in the potty several times so I better get going on it!

Our Pitiful Performance

Have you ever seen anything so embarrassing? I just found this pic today while rummaging through all my JUNK! This is Jackie (right) and I at a dance performance we had for a little dance class we took. Advice to parents: If you can't afford the costume, spare your kids the embarrassment and don't sign them up in the first place! LOL! I remember this night well. It was Jesse's birthday, and we had eaten homemade pizza just before the performance. After I performed I went and sat down and threw up, bright orange throw up. Poor Annie. I remember her helping me clean up in the bathroom! I'm still not sure what was more embarrassing that night...the throwing up or the standing out on stage! Ok I sware I am going to back off the blogging for a few days. Between blogging and my homework my hands are tired.

Dancing Debut (just for Coa)

Ok Coa, as I was going through pics for Trev's blog I found this picture. Now do you remember me being in dance and performing? Who could forget this ridiculous red dress? Ashley had one too (red). I actually think Lindy was in that class too and had a blue dress. (Lindy if you see this post you can confirm or deny that). I think AnnaMarie Bonnett made the dance up. Ryan saw this pic and had a hay day with it. He is probably just bummed that I cut my hair and that my thighs are BIGGER now! LOL! Look at Rhett in the corner. What a cutie!

Happy Birthday Mom

This is a Happy Birthday wish to my Mom! I looked and looked but I couldn't find a graphic big enough to fit all the candles you would need on your cake, so I thought you could just multiply these candles by about 22 give or take a year or two! LOL! I love you Mom! Thank you for all the sacrifices you have made to raise NINE kids. My eyes are opened to that every single day as I take care of my own kids. Hugs and Kisses!
Rachel

Shake that Bootie

Ava was being a character again tonight. She loves when I record her and she can watch it. Usually before bed I will sing for the girls and they dance. For some reason it is usually "Give said the little stream" or "Hit the road Jack" Don't ask me why! Notice Ava's Dora underwear OVER her diaper. That is her way of pretending she is a "big" girl! I'm hoping she will be potty trained soon!

Glued to Full House

My kids love to watch Full House. This is the scene I came upon after putting clothes up in the bedroom. I know I am picture and video CRAZY, and always have been. But now I get to torture you people with my mania! Anyway, there they all were watching Full House together. Of course Breck is only half heartedly watching given his age :-) I was supposedly doing house work, but I am still in love with Jessie (don't worry Ryan knows :-) so I kept stopping to watch too!

Naturally Sweet

I found this shirt at Walmart that says "Naturally Sweet No Sugar Added" I thought it was so cute! I took a video of Breck in it. Of course I was holding the camera the wrong way and I can't stand hearing my voice! I tried taking a picture instead, but he kept moving all over and our camera is so crappy they all turned out blurry. UPDATE: When I went to change him a couple hours later he had poop all over the shirt :-(

Slow Cooked Taco Meat Loaf

Ingredients:
2 cups crushed tortilla chips
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup salsa
2 eggs, whipped
1 envelope taco seasoning mix
2 lbs ground beef (may use 1 lb and half ingredients)
1/4 cup sliced olives, optional
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tb hot sauce

Directions:
In large bowl, combine first six ingredients thoroughly. Shape into round loaf. Place aluminum foil on bottom of crock pot with enough sticking up to grasp and retrieve meat loaf when done. Place loaf in crock pot and cook on low 3-4 hours until meat is no longer pink and/or thermometer reads 160 degrees. Combine the last three ingredients, pour over meat during last hour of cooking. Use foil to lift loaf out of crock pot.

Tamale Fever

The reason I say "fever" is because while Ryan and Jackie were making tamales I was burning up! I had the AC on and the window open! All that tamale steaming was too much for me! We had a good time chit chatting over the loooooooong drawn out process of making tamales. I think Gracie's face says it all! lol! Ryan finally got done steaming the last of the tamales about 36 hours after we got started....no kidding! But oh how yummy they are! I will NEVER admit how many I have already had at this point. Ryan knows my weakness and took the majority out to the deep freeze! :-) I think Jackie and I should go in half on a big steamer like they have in restaurants. It would cut the process time in half or more. Kelsey came out too and we had a good time teasing her. I pulled Kelsey and the girls around the block in our red wagon. For those of you who don't know Kelsey she is 15 so they looked hilarious crammed into that wagon! I could hardly breathe by the time I was done! We had conference on the whole time BUT we may have to get the full message from the Ensign; we were talking so much! Anyway we really had a good time and I think it is a fun tradition!

Our Groundbreaking

WOOHOO! Our yard has finally had some attention paid to it! We have been in here 17 months and we have managed to put up a rock wall and plant grass in the front BUT the back yard really hasn't had any attention until the other day. We actually took all the huge nasty rocks, or should I say boulders, from our front yard and put them in the back so it looked even worse. On Monday night Ryan's bro-in-law Mark came out with his track hoe and dump truck. He scraped off FIVE loads full of nasty rocks and dirt! He is going to bring in topsoil soon and then we will buy sod. We will actually be able to swim out there this year and plant a garden....YEAH! Mark brought his son Cameron along. He is four and Gracie loves to play with her cousins. Ava was in bed, but Gracie had a good old time with Cameron. He is SO cute, and I took some pics but I don't feel like I should put them up without permission. Anyway we are really grateful to Mark (and Jodie) for all their help!

A birthday thanks.....

Just wanted to thank everyone again for the cards, presents, and well wishes on my birthday. We ended up taking the girls to the Mayan on the 4th. They have a new menu and a new show. It was good! Ryan didn't think his burrito was that great though. I got the chicken tortilla soup. It had spicy sausage in it. It was really yummy. We got right up to the divers when they did the show, and Ava and Gracie thought it was great. They have a part now where all this water gushes over the side of the cliff, and this diver is hanging on pretending he doesn't want to fall. It is pretty cool. Of course by the time we made it back to LeeAnn's Breck was a wreck! lol! He is a mama's boy for sure. There are only two things he really loves in life....milk and nap time.

25 Years Later!

This is the birthday card that my parents gave me for my 1st birthday! Cute huh? On the inside it says "Little Duck's all set and his friends are too. To sing this special song for you... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAVE FUN!" "We love you so much baby Rachel, Daddy & Mom" I'm surprised, being the youngest of nine, that my Mom actually saved this. Good for you Mom!

Garden Crab Macaroni Salad

Ingredients:
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 pack Pollock imitation crab
2/3 cup chopped sweet yellow pepper
2/3 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup shredded carrot
2 green onions, chopped
2 Tb minced fresh parsley
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp pepper

Directions:
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the crab, vegetables and parsley. Drain macaroni and rinse in cold water; add crab mixture. In a small bowl, combine the mayo, ranch, Parmesan cheese and pepper. Pour over salad and toss to coat.
Refrigerate for best taste.

This was originally made with tuna, not crab, but I changed it.