French Dip...

O.K., this is the yummiest french dip sandwich recipe ever...I got it from my friend Amber.  Thanks for the great recipe

3lb. boneless rump roast (or your favorite beef roast)

1/2 cup soy sauce

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 bay leaf

2 cans beef broth

1 tsp. garlic powder

3 peppercorns

1 tsp. dried rosemary

Place roast in crock pot, add dry ingredients.  Pour beef broth over roast.  Cook on high for 6-8 hours or until meat is very tender.

Then place meat on your deli-style sub roll and then put swiss or provolone cheese on top and place under broiler until cheese is melted.  Then use juice in crock-pot as your dipping aujus. 

A great side dish is funeral potatoes.  Enjoy!!! 

Spring Break Road Trip...

Spring Break Road Trip...We decided to get the heck out of dodge and road trip it during the kids spring break from school.  The car was packed to the max and we headed to Utah for Easter weekend.  On Monday we loaded the car back up and headed for Boise.  We shopped, ate, and swam.  The weather was pretty crappy, but we still managed to have a great time.  We started Tuesday morning off with the boys wanting to swim first thing.  We headed to the mall and had an early lunch at Cheesecake Factory.  We took the kids swimming at the YMCA indoor aquatic center.  They have an amazing facility.  It had indoor diving boards, squirt fountains and a kiddie pool, indoor slide, etc.  Colton took the swim test with one of the lifeguards so he could go off the diving boards.  He had to swim both ways of an Olympic size lap pool to pass and he did a great job.  He then proceeded to jump off the high dive.  He said, "it went soooo fast."  It scared him a little bit, so we had to coax him into going one more time.  The boys loved the water slide and had a fabulous time swimming there.  We just showed up at our friends (The Johnson's house) and the boys had such a fun time playing with Adam and Luke and we had a great time catching up with Ben and Jen.  

We went to an amazing restaurant called the Rib Shack.  I am still craving the smashed potatoes and the burnt end sandwich.  YUMO!  I had to hit the Boise mall one more time before we left, so I spent Wednesday morning spending all of Greg's money, shopping till I was dropping while Greg entertained the kids in the hotel pool.  We loaded up and drove to Sun Valley.  This was the highlight of the trip.  The outdoor pool is amazing.  The water is so warm with steam raising off the water, and it is so fun to be outside in the cold weather with the amazing view of the ski resort overhead.  We swam until we were tired and ordered take out (Rocky Mountain Pizza) and ate and watched American Idol in bed.  We loved relaxing and hanging out together as a family.  Thursday morning started in the pool and ended with a late breakfast/lunch at The Kneadery.  
We then started the long treck home to unpacking and laundry.  We had a great time and hopefully this will become our new tradition.  We loved every second of it.  The best traveler award goes to Crew.  He was such a good baby the entire time.  He was in his car seat alot and he was such a trooper.  He went with the flow and was so easy to take everywhere.    

Greg's Highlight...Colton jumping off the high dive

Emily's Highlight...Everything (Food, Shopping, Family Time)

Colton's Highlight...The Kneadery, YMCA Pool, Sun Valley Pool

Cannon's Highlight...The Rib Shack, YMCA Water Slide, Sun Valley Pool

Crew's Highlight...The swimming pool in Sun Valley

Easter Weekend...

We had a wonderful Easter Weekend in Utah. It started off at The Ogden Pizzeria, our favorite pizza place and then we went to The Junction in Ogden where the boys played Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Golf. We went with Greg's sister Liz and her darling girls. Then Saturday, we started off the day at an amazing Easter egg hunt at Great Grandma Healy's (she is turning 96 this month) assisted living home. They put so many eggs and fun prizes up and down every hallway. My kids got so many eggs and they loved every second of the egg hunt. Then they served a wonderful brunch and we got to visit with cousins and Grandma and we had a great time. My kids also got to visit with the Easter Bunny and got their picture taken with him. I forgot my camera, so I will post pictures when I get them. Then we had a fun family party at my Mom's and an egg hunt for the little kids. We laughed a lot and played cards. Sunday we enjoyed going to church with Greg's family and ate a huge Sunday dinner with both our families. We love going to Utah and love the memories we make with each one of our family members. Thanks everyone for a Happy Easter Weekend.

2 instead of 3

My sweet yet dramatic and stubborn little boy Cannon went to his Grandma and Grandpa's house in Utah this morning.  All day today, I kept asking myself what it would be like to go back to having 2 kids.  This is my conclusion...Colton just wants to watch basketball and play his Nintendo DS.  He hardly communicates with me.  His idol is his father.  He probably wouldn't even ask where I was and when I was coming home if I disappeared for a week.  (Makes me a little sad) However, he is old enough to dress himself, get himself something to eat if no one is around to wait on him, and can brush his own teeth.  This makes life really simple.  Crew is a pretty easy baby.  He sleeps well, eats well, and is pretty much always happy to go wherever we want or need to go.  So I pose this question again, Would I go back to having two children.  My answer is no.  I love Cannon so much and he brings such a fun dynamic to our house.  He also reminds me a lot of myself as a child.  I wouldn't give him away for anything else in this world, but I would definitely give him away for just one night here and there.  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.  He was excited to have his own time away with all the attention.  Imagine that?  I love you Colton, Cannon, and Crew.  I am so happy to have you as my sons.  

Happy Birthday Britt...

Happy Birthday to my sister-in-law Brittney.  My brother John and Brittney are the cutest couple and perfect for each other.  We miss you all the time and wish we could see you more.  Hope you have a wonderful birthday.  

Menu Planning

O.K.  The menu planning was o.k. for a few months, but my week hardly ever panned out how I had planned, so I am just going to post one recipe a week that I am planning to make.  

I got this recipe from my friend Ali, and it is absolutely the best haystack recipe I have ever had!

Hawaiian Haystacks...

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup flour

2 cup chicken stock or broth

additional 4-6 tsp. chicken bouillon

2 cups half and half

3 cups chopped cooked chicken

Melt butter in saucepan, add flour and cook until bubbly.  Then add Broth, bouillon, half and half until smooth, thick, bubbly, and warm.  Then add chicken.  If it is too thick, add a little more chicken broth.  Serve over rice with all your favorite haystack toppings.  My family likes pineapple, chow mein nooddles, cheese, peas, etc.

Enjoy~ 

A Glimpse At My Future...

On Thursday, I had 6 little boys at my house.  It was quite entertaining to watch them all interact with each other.  All the boys were running around in the basement playing football, nintendo, basketball, and wrestling.  As I watched them, all I could think about was this might be my future.  Who knows if I will ever have a girl, and I am o.k. with that.  But, having six boys and Greg in the house was a little to much testosterone for one girly girly to handle.  But it was fun for one day!

Crew 4 Months Old...

My good friend Shelly is so talented at a number of different things.  One of her talents is photography.  She was so nice to come take pictures of Crew today for his 4 month birthday.  Thank you so much Shelly.  I will cherish every single picture you took.  I love each and every expression you captured.  Here are a few, but go here to my new photo gallery website an check out all of the stinking cute pictures!

4 months old

-14 lbs. 26 inches long

-Loves to jabber a lot

-Loves his swing, bumbo, bouncer, and saucer.  He has a good rotation going on

-Size 2 diapers

-Smiles so much

-Takes about 3 consistent naps a day

-Always wants to be held or have someone paying attention to him

-Loves his crib for naps

-Loves his light-up music thingy dingy in his crib

-Loves his binkie

-Is just starting to laugh

-Sleeps through the night most of the time

-Really goes with the flow 

-Loves his car seat

-Loves car rides

-Sleeps really well in car seat

-Tags along anywhere we need to go

-Is a very very good baby

-He brings so much joy and love into our home

This past 4 months have flown by.  I can still remember the day you were born.  We are so lucky to have you Crew!   WE love you!

What Happened To My Sleeper...

O.K. I am asking for everybody who reads this blog for any suggestions to help me get my baby back on his good sleeping schedule. The past 4-5 nights, Crew has been waking up in the night and each night he is waking up more and more. Last night he was up every hour from 1:00 a.m. on. I wouldn't feed him until 4:00 but he was up again the next hour. So, pretty much I have ruled out that he was really hungry. I think he is just getting into a bad habbit. The problem with him not sleeping is he has slept through the night pretty much since he came home from the hospital. For 2 months he has slept from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. I really need advise. If any of you have a suggestion of what I should do, please leave a comment. Any suggestion would be much appreciated. I am definitely at a loss!!!!

My Family...

As I am getting older, I realize more and more each day that there is nothing more important in this world than my family. I love them so much and I am so thankful that I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and sister-in-law. I love you all and I am so thankful for the memories we create together!

Happy Birthday Todd...

Happy Birthday to my brother-in-law Todd. We hope you have a wonderful birthday.

Menu March 10-16

Well I did receive a few comments about how much some of my faithful blog readers are enjoying my menu planning and a recipe I post with it. So, I will try to continue this each week. However, most of my menu's fly out the window by Tuesday morning due to picky picky children and we end up having left overs or whatever we round up because the kids would rather have cereal every night for dinner.

Monday-Meat Loaf/Baked Potatoes/Green Beans

Tuesday-Grilled Chicken and Brown Rice/Corn

Wednesday-Leftovers (Meat Loaf Sandwiches

Thursday-Taco Salad

Friday-Leftovers

Saturday-Out

Sunday-Steaks on the Grill/Some type of Potatoes/Rolls/Salad

Little Cheddar Meat Loaf
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 chopped onion
1 tsp. salt
1 lb. ground beef
2/3 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp dry mustard

In a bowl, beat the egg and milk. Stir in cheese, oats, onion, and salt. Add beef and mix well. Shape into eight loaves. Place in a greased 9x14 pan. Combine ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Spoon over the loaves. Bake uncovered @ 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Serve with a baked potato and green salad.

This Week Is Over...

Have you ever been so happy to say good-bye to a busy week. Well this past week was super busy and it seemed I had something going on everyday. Well today I had to give a talk in church and I am so glad that is over. Now on to a new less busy week.

Tonight our ward Relief Society went to the cannery. I brought home about 48 cans of food. I am so excited to organize my storage room this weekend and update my food storage list. I still have a long ways to go. If any of you have any great food storage tips, post a comment!

Switching...

It was a lot of work trying to switch my blog from a typepad account to blogger. I am glad it is finally done and I can start back to my normal blogging routine. It still might be a few more days to get back to normal. I now need to cram on www.lds.org and start preparing my talk for Sunday. Thanks to all my faithful readers. I promise to get back on track Monday Morning!

Friends From Texas...

Our good friends (Launa and Andrew) that moved to Texas last year came into town this weekend. It was so fun to see them. It brought back such great memories. Launa is so fun to be around. She is always the life of the party. Andrew is also a blast to be around. He is so funny. I put together a shin-dig for them at my house with all their friends. We ate until we were all sick, talked, and played a fun game. Thanks Launa and Andrew for finding time for us. We miss you! Please move back!!!!

Picture of My House...

My brother John made fun of me about posting the picture of my house while under construction on my post about being a home body. He said it looked pretty trashy. Well that is the only picture I have taken of the outside of my house. Stay tuned and I will post a picture when all the snow melts and the spring plants are in bloom. Sorry John for the disappointment I caused you! I love you!