Monday, December 17, 2012

That Was So Fun!

That was Ruby's comment one night as we left the drive through festival of lights near KC and Emily's home.

We just returned from a fun time visiting Ruby, Bennett, Alex, Emily and KC and had a great time with everyone. Every morning as soon as we were up Ruby would ask in her sweet little voice, "go jump on the bed?"  They all loved jumping on the guest bed, a treat that they don't get to do all the time.  We played Pet Store, Super man, dance and freeze, and wrap up the babies. I loved their chatter, laughs and giggles, and when they reach up and say 'hugs?', meaning they wanted to be picked up.
Here's a sample of the fun times we had:
Charmer Bennett

Ruby

fun with magnets and pipe cleaners

princess Ruby

too cool Bennett

Ruby and the sand angel

group photo: not successful/ mostly impossible

Happy Alex

That camel is about to eat Bennett
Decorating the fake gingerbread house - or mostly eating and licking

Ruby the Reindeer

Building with Grandpa
You can't see much in this video, but there are three sweet voices that burst into song as we were preparing to go for a drive.

This one features Ruby and her random song and comments after our evening visit to the Festival of Lights.

Decorating the live tree with enthusiastic helpers

Great job decorating!

I miss them all ready! 
 The awesome parents

Friday, November 30, 2012

Marco's blessing

We had a really sweet experience for Marco's blessing at our home in mid November.


love the tie!

What a handsome little guy!
He was so clam and never made a peep - just looked around during the entire blessing.

Friday, November 9, 2012

baby in the house



Yep, we are smitten by this little one who lives so close by!
 Even Clyde who can't wait till babies are old enough to 'play' is smitten and wants grandpa time daily
He even shares his tv time with Marco!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

getting creative for dinner




Started with bits of leftover roast, peas, cooked carrots, gravy and mashed potatoes.
Broke up the meat, added peas, carrots and gravy.
Heated that up in the microwave.
Served over a thin spread of warmed up mashed potatoes on the plate.
Super fast and tasted like pot pie without the crust, and without an hour of baking.  More like 10 minutes to pull it out and heat it up. Best kind of cooking.
Clyde liked it a lot.

Gonna add this to easy meals, after a Sunday roast.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

easy and yummy

I created a little quick dinner recipe tonight. Super easy!

I had a bag of Aidells chicken  teriyaki pineapple meatballs from Costco.
I sliced some Torta rolls by La Brea bakery also found at Costco. (these rolls make anything taste great- you'll be hooked once you taste them.)
I heated the meatballs in some Yoshidas gourmet cooking sauce, just until it thickened and glazed the meatballs.
I broiled some pineapple slices. (canned!)
I served the meatballs and pineapple on the Torta rolls, and added a slice of Colby cheese. Any kind of cheese would taste great.  It was a big sandwich but delicious.

Fast and yummy! Definitely a new addition to my dinner options.
I did not take a picture.  I had no idea we would love it so much!


Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween from the past and present!

KC the cool dude
the original sheep, Camille
Stylin Hat Stella
Baby sheep Marco
Skeletons! Happy ones!
Owl who came to visit the FPH in July 2009? Scary for sure
Not Halloween , but costume like? some years back..
Ya Ya sisters
Sheepy Nicole and Casey Pee Wee Herman
We like dressing up in our high school fashions
this is the source of all the hits on my blog even today. Just google helmet umbrella!
October  09 accident - black eye for real.
Care Bear Nicole and Casey Scissorhands

He's the real deal

Wow Nicole!
Erin the Indian
Arrgh, Nicole the Pirate
Michelle Banana, Cisco Gorilla

This is the first time I met Tyler!

I spy Emily and??

 Happy Halloween!

Friday, September 28, 2012

Just stretching

This is who I hung out with for a while tonight.


We love having little Marco around to brighten our days.
You should come see him.

(Please ignore the barking of the annoying neighborhood dog. He was very loud, even with the doors closed)

taming the zucchini

I only planted one zucchini plant in the garden.  I know how they can get huge in a blink of an eye or so it seems.  With all the business of the summer, I have had a few large zucchinis to deal with...
Here's a new recipe I made for Michelle, so she had some quick breakfast options:



Zucchini bites
Olive oil
1 onion dices
3 slices bacon
1 carrot – grated
1 large zucchini – grated
3 eggs
1 cup cheese ( Parmesan or cheddar or a mixture)
¼ cup cream
½ cup self rising four ( add 3//4 t baking soda and ¼ t salt)

Sauté onion, carrot, and zucchini in olive oil. Cook bacon in microwave, chop and add to veggies to cool.
Beat eggs, cream, and cheese. Add to zucchini mixture
Stir in flour
Spoon into greased mini muffin pans
Bake 350 for 15 – 20 minutes.
Easy breakfast item!

My new favorite zucchini casserole because it goes together really fast:

Ritz Zucchini Cheddar Casserole
4 c very thinkly sliced zucchini
1/2 cu diced sweet onion
1 sleeve (35) Ritz crackers, crushed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup milk
3 T butter (I just use olive oil and less)
Season all and garlic powder (optional)

saute zucchini, onion till transparent, salt and pepper to taste.  In large bowl mix crackers and cheese.
mix one half of this into the zucchini mixture in your 2 qt baking dish.  Blend eggs and milk together with seasonings.  Pour over zucchini and cracker mixture.  top with the other half of crackers and cheese.
Bake 400 for 20 - 25 mintues.
freezes well (I have made two at a time and put one in a foil pan for the freezer.  So easy for a quick dinner when nights are busy.)
I used to make a zuc casserole with shredded carrots, stuffing, sour cream and cream of chicken soup.  This one is tastier and faster.

New favorite Zucchini bread:

(called Mom's Zucchini Bread on All recipes.com)
3 cups flour
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
3 t cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup veg oil ( I replace 1/4 cup oil with ground flax - 6 T)
2 1/4 cups white sugar ( I usually leave out about 1/2 cup sugar)
3 t vanilla
2 cups grated zucchini (sometimes I drain out the extra watery stuff)
optional 1 cup chopped walnuts
grease two 8 x 4 pans or three smaller pans

sift flour, salt, b powder, soda, and cinnamon
beat eggs, oil, flax and sugar. add sifted dry ingredients.  Stir in zucchini and optional nuts
pour into baking pans
Bake 325 degrees for 40 - 60 minutes depending on your pan size.  check for doneness early if using the smaller loaf pans.
cool in pan 20 minutes, then remove. The smell while baking is addicting!

I didn't take any photos of my zucchini - that's boring.
So here is a reminder to never text and drive! This really happened this summer in Salt Lake City.  the 16 year old girl walked away unharmed.  But it was a chore getting that car out.  Just like we need to pay attention to how quickly our zucchini will get over sized! Ha.





Sunday, September 16, 2012

Marco is Born

One week and 2 days ago, Michelle went into labor, finally!  She was 41 weeks and scheduled to be induced on Friday Sept 7.  About 5:30 in the morning she called me to tell me that she actually was in labor, contractions 5 minutes apart and there would be no need to be induced!
 I arrived at the hospital around 7:20 am and gave some back rubs and encouragement to Michelle.  A little while later she was ready for the epidural and was then heard to say, "I've never felt so comfortable!"  It made a huge difference for her and she was smiling, happy, and just waiting for the progress. Four hours later the doctor told her it was time to push! 
What a tender time for me to comfort my baby who was about to have her own first baby!
I held my breath through all those counts of ten, 3 x during each contraction.  It was hard not to!

What a wonderful moment when the little baby made his appearance, and was placed skin to skin upon his mommies tummy.  We all gasped when he just lifted up his head to look at her.
Every moment and look at him was precious!
It's so great to have a new baby in the house - such sweetness and tenderness felt by all.





big boy, almost outgrown his newborn outfit!


Michelle and Marco came home on Sunday and we had Cisco's parents to dinner so they could enjoy the new little one.  We had a great time!

Trying out the Mamroo swing - so cool!  It can play songs on the iPhone.

First bath