Meet The Robinson's....

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Decisions, Decisions......

So I'am sure mostly everyone has heard by now that we are in the process of moving back to Las Vegas. Nate accepted a position at Summerlin Hospital and we are scheduled to make the big move in the third week of April. I know some of you are shocked, elated, sad, curious, worried, the list goes on. Well I'am right there with you. With the move a little more than 5 days away, notices put into to Nate's current employer, schools and our landlord, it still has not hit me yet that we are moving back, it's almost like I can't fathom or process it for some reason.

Some of you are probably curious as to how/why we came to this decision to head back. Nate and I LOVE Iowa, like REALLY LOVE Iowa. I could and would gladly and happily stay here for the rest of my life and be completely content. Iowa is a serious hidden gem in this awesome country known as the USA. I will definitely be dedicating an ENTIRE future post on the magnificence of Iowa and all this so-called "corn" state has to offer. Nate and I have been struggling financially and spiritually for the last several years. We are doing fine now with Nate's income and position at his current hospital, but the hours and days that he works just plain suck! We haven't been an active going church family for years and it has been very difficult for us. We really need to get our family back on the path of salvation, but with Nate's current position we just don't see how that will ever be possible. I just can't take 3 kiddos to church by myself yet until Chase and Caitlyn are a bit older and can be trusted to handle themselves better. I have been offered help with Coby and the kids multiple times, but it's just difficult to even handle Coby by himself at church, especially since he is nearly my height and weight already. I'm getting off topic here so lets move on. Missing church and never having the chance at a normal schedule or even the possibility of owning a home one day again were huge factors in the final decision to move.

We feel this move will be very beneficial to us and are so excited to get to Vegas and get started. There are soooooo many things to do in Vegas for kids, for families, for every walk of life. Vegas has its down sides sure, with its CRAZAY-a$$ traffic/drivers, congestion in general, crime rates (mostly in the crazy parts of town), but it has its up sides as well. For one, my family (which I have not been able to share a single holiday with since we moved to Iowa in May of 2006), most of our friends live in Vegas or the surrounding areas and St.George, UT. (which is a piddly 2 hr. drive away), THE MOUNTAINS!!!, lots of fantastic restaurants, shopping, great church members (betcha didn't know Vegas has a LOT of LDS members), best of all a TEMPLE!!

The list of pro's we formulated in making our decisions to move, far out weighed the cons. We are anxious to get there already and get our lives back on track and to relax finally. Life in Iowa has been good, but it has been the most trying and difficult seven years of our entire lives. I'am grateful for the trials that Nate and I had to go through as a couple and as a family. We both have stated that while we were born and raised in Nevada, we really grew up and grew together in Iowa. We had no one, but each other to lean a lot of the time. Coming to Iowa really made us into the strong couple we are today. I have never felt more connected or more in-love with Nate. He is truly my better-half and my best friend. I thank Iowa for helping us become the strong couple/family we are today.

ok let me end this with a few pictures of our soon-to-be stomping grounds.

The Beautiful Las Vegas Temple:

Gorgeous Mount Charleston:

Beautiful Red Rock Canyon:

Of course the Las Vegas Strip, because even it has its own beauty:

And the best part of all our new Home and Community:

One of Several pools: this is the lagoon pool with the club house in the background

The Waterpark for kids right in our community

The Guard Gate, so you CAN'T solicit me :)

The GORGEOUS golf course. Nate and I can't wait to get on it and play a round or several

another of the course with the stunning mountain views right in our back yard

We also have several playgrounds for the kids and parks, more pools, (including a lap pool and hot tubs), tennis courts, racquet ball courts, a restaurant, a HUGE gym with b-ball courts and full fitness center (with access to every class imaginable, machines and such), ALL exclusive to those who live in this community and everything for FREE (with the exception of paying for rounds of golf and fitness classes (i believe). WE are ALL EXCITED!!!!

We shall see you soon Las Vegas, house and FAMILY!!!!!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Recipes requested

ok so I have been asked alot lately to share some of the recipes that I talk about on Facebook and I was going to message everyone who asked me for them, but then I decided that would take me forever, so instead I will post about them here and then you all can print them and have them forever :)...although my kiddos will eat almost everything I make, most of these are the kids favorite's. These recipes are sooooo super simple and yummy

First up:

Garlic Chicken Pasta with Broccoli adapted from Cook's Country and Mel's Kitchen Cafe

6 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (this doesn't add spiciness - just the right amount of flavor)

6 tablespoons olive oil

2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound) Salt and pepper to taste

1 pound penne pasta

2 cups cooked broccoli florets or steamed spinach

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 tablespoon dried (i always use dried, so much easier LOL)

6 tablespoons juice from 2-3 lemons

1 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot. Meanwhile, combine garlic, pepper flakes and oil in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave until garlic is golden and fragrant, about 1 minute. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and cut into bite-size pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer 1 tablespoon of the garlic/red pepper oil to a large skillet and heat over medium heat until oil is rippling. Add chicken and cook until well browned and cooked through. Transfer to a plate. Add broccoli to the boiling water and cook until tender crisp, remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add pasta to boiling water and cook until tender but still slightly firm (al dente). Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water. Drain pasta and return to the pot. Stir in chicken, cooked broccoli (or spinach), basil, lemon juice, Parmesan, and remaining garlic mixture, adding reserved pasta water as needed. if needed season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

we usually have garlic bread to go with this recipe as well.

Beef Noodle Bowl adapted from a Kraft magazine recipe/website and found on one of my favorite blogs http://jodienoted.blogspot.com/search/label/good%20eats

1 lb linguine
2 cups broccoli florets
4-5 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 tsp vegetable oil
1-2 lb beef sirloin steak, *cut into thin strips
1/2 cup Kraft Zesty Italian dressing
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
2 tsp ginger

Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, adding vegetables to the boiling water for the last 2 minutes of cooking time.

Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet or wok. Add meat; cook until just browned on all sides. Stir in dressing, teriyaki sauce, and ginger; cook 2 minutes or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally.

Drain pasta and vegetable mixture; place in large serving bowl. Add meat mixture; toss until well coated. Sprinkle with dry roasted peanuts, if desired, and serve.

*Sirloin steak will be much easier to slice if slightly frozen.

you could easily half this recipe for a smaller family. :) it makes tons of left-overs

Zuppa Toscana adapted from Cafe Zuppas website with my own twist (this is not a kid favorite, but I have had many requests for it)

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 {32} ounce containers organic chicken broth (or homemade if you have on hand; also, Costco carries a
great organic chicken stock at a great price)

4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes

4 cups kale, chopped, stems discarded

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

pinch of red pepper flakes

3/4 lb. mild Italian sausage links, casings removed (a local grocery store, Harmons, makes the best house-made sweet Italian sausage with hints of fennel, which compliment this soup nicely)

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 large cloves garlic (minced)

grated parmesan cheese

In a large pot, saute onion in olive oil over medium heat until onion becomes translucent–about 10 minutes. Add broth, potatoes, kale, sea salt, pepper, and pepper flakes then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the sausage until browned in a pan over medium heat, breaking up with the back of a wooden spoon. Once cooked thoroughly, add the sausage, cream and garlic to the soup. Heat to desired temperature and serve with grated parmesan cheese. on top. Enjoy!

Korean BBQ Beef (my own recipe adapted from my step-mom who is Korean and taught me how to make it, this is the kids favorite thing I make)

There are literally a ton of different ways to make it, but my step-mom who is Korean and is from Korea taught me to make it with beef short ribs, but since those can get super pricey so, i do it like this: oh and these are just guesstimates, because I never really use a recipe for it I just know what's in the marinade and when it tastes right lol

2lbs. Thin Top round steak cut into smaller portioned steaks and against the grain (of course)

Meat mallet (for tenderizing the steaks)

About 1 C Soy sauce (you could use reduced sodium Soy Sauce)

About 1/4 C sesame seed oil (found in most Asian sections of grocery stores)

1Tbsp sesame seeds

3-4 Tbsp sugar

Half of a white onion cut into strips

1 bunch of green onion, cut off the greener part and slice length wise (you can discard the whiter parts and save them for a salad or something else)

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

4 Cloves of garlic minced

Gallon sized zip lock Baggie

Best way to cook is a charcoal grill, but any grill will do . Tenderize the meat with the mallet as you deem necessary. Add everything into the zip lock bag either over night or at least 6 hrs. Before grilling. Cook meat to the temp you like, discard the marinade. Soooo easy and sooooo dELISH, serves about 4-6 people. You Can pair with steamed rice, fried rice, a nice Asian salad, some noodles, or some edamame.... Enjoy! again these are just rough estimates. Next time I make this I will measure everything out :)

Chunky Cheese Soup adapted from my friend Laura (kids love this)
2 C chicken broth

2 C diced peeled red potatoes (i never peel mine for this soup)

½ C diced carrot

½ C chopped celery

¼ C chopped onion

1 ½ t salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 cloves garlic (minced)

1 C cubed cooked bacon (or ham)

1/4 C butter

1/4 C flour

2 C milk

2 C grated cheddar cheese

In a pot combine first eight ingredients. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until vegetables are tender. Add ham. In a saucepan, melt the butter; stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in cheese until melted; add to the soup. thats it ENJOY!

Rotini Casserole (my own easy peasy, kid friendly recipe)

1 lb. rotini pasta

1 jar Ragu Chunky Tomato, Garlic and Onion sauce (you could make your own marinara sauce which I have done before and LOVE to do, but if you're in a hurry and want an easy sauce this is the way to go)

1 8 oz. can tomato sauce

1Tbsp dehydrated chopped onion

1/4 tsp each onion and garlic powder

1/4 tsp. crushed parsley flakes

a couple dashes of salt and pepper

1 1/2 C. divided shredded Mozzarella cheese or Italian cheese mix (Hy-Vee has a great Italian cheese mix already grated)

Preheat oven to 400. Bring 4 quarts water to a boil, add the pasta and cook til just about done/tender-crisp. drain the pasta (you don't want to over cook the pasta or it will be mushy when it comes out of the oven)and put in a pre-greased 3 quart casserole dish/ large cake pan. add the Ragu sauce (or homemade marinara), tomato sauce, dehydrated onion, garlic and onion powder, parsley flakes, salt and pepper and 3/4C. shredded Cheese, stir to evenly coat the pasta and to meld the ingredients together. top with the rest of the 3/4C shredded cheese and cover with tin foil. cook in the oven for 15 min. or until it's all bubbly. Remove the tin foil and cook for another 5 min. until the cheese in completely melted. Enjoy. (my kids love this! and it's MEATLESS! and so cheap)

I think that's it, if there is another recipe you want that I have posted about just let me know. I have tons more :-)

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Fun in the Iowa sun...

There are very few places in Wdm where we can take Coby now-a-days and after the Tuesday debacle at mc d's where I thought I was going to pummel some woman for spewing hate at my sweet boy, the list of places we can take him is dwindling down. So Nate and I were thinking up a list of places for Coby to go and Jester Park popped into both of our heads. Jester Park is an awesome state park here in Iowa that is surrounded by sprawling trees and foliage, it is gorgeous and they have the neatest set up just for the littles complete with a cute this swimming hole with a place to build dams and spout. This little place is quite possibly Cobys favorite place in all of Iowa and when there is nobody else there it is our own little piece of heaven. We stayed at Jester for about an hour until a bunch of families showed up and it was time to go.

Iowa is amazing!! There are soooo many things to do here as a family and a lot of the stuff is either *free* or pretty close to it. I love Iowa and I just can't say enough about it. The opportunities that we have been afforded here makes me feel more and more blessed everyday. My brother and his fiancé are coming in approximately 8 days (but who's counting lol!) and I can't wait to show them what this place is all about and we may even eat some corn. After all this is Iowa :)

ps I'm blogging from my iPhone for the first time and I have no idea how this will turn out.. Hopefully the pics aren't all over the place