Best part about 1:00 church?

I actually have time to bake for Sunday Dinner/Dessert! For Christmas Ashley bought me Pioneer Womans cookbook and I have been dying to try some recipes. Today I made her Pot Roast (SO YUMMY!), rolls and Flat Apple Pie. I kid you not when I say the apple pie was heavenly... I have never made a pie before so I was a little nervous. But it was SUPER easy....

Notice the slice missing in the picture.... When it came out of the oven I took a bite (or two!) to see how it turned out. Let's just say third hour of church I kept dreaming of the pie. I ate dinner at record speed so it would be time for dessert. And now that I have raved about it.... I think I'll go get another slice before Andy eats it all.

So.... go get yourself the Pioneer Woman Cookbook and make some pie for your Marlboro man!

Post-edit: Andy just finished his pie and he said, "that was the best pit I've ever tasted. It was flaky but moist at the same time"

Mission accomplished. What should I make next week?

Three Kids

Tonight Andy and I are watching our nieces while my sister, Ashley, is at a work dinner for her hubby. So, we have been getting a small taste of what life with 3 kids is like.... and what Ashley's life is going to be like in just a few short weeks!

Here are a few lessons learned:
If your outfit gets dirty... you may not get a new one because too many things are going on. Exhibit A:

Tantrums are thrown because you may not get all the attention with other kids needing something. Exhibit B:

But then you realize life will go on. Exhibit C:

While trying to accomplish a sewing project you have a few extra helpers. Exhibit D:

Lots and Lots of movies get us through the hour before bedtime! Exhibit E:

Last but not least.... Dance parties are a must! 

Here is Shubby dancing... and then "performing":

Ava showing us her moves... This looks so much like Ashley! Who can tell me what dance this is from?

The videos are mostly for Grandma Tracy.... anyway, there is never a dull moment with three kids--if only for the night and tomorrow morning! I'm pretty sure Lucas had the time of his life playing with cousins.  

Total Flop

Tonight I was not in the mood to make dinner, but I had planned and bought food for each night this week... So I started cooking. Halfway through I saw the Froot Loops and really wanted those instead, but I pressed forward. An hour later dinner was on the table....and it wasn't even edible. Chicken was rubber, sauce was bland, noodles were Terrible. So... Froot Loops it was. I'm not sure what I'm more upset about, the fact that I spend over an hour preparing when I could have been watching Bachelor, or all the money wasted. I think the money wasted upsets me most.

But how can I stay upset with this cute kid looking at me with his new kicks on? Obsessed.









Maybe tomorrow night we'll stick with the recipes I know work!

Cousins Day!

Today was so much fun! My cousin Brandi and her husband are in town for a work convention. Husband at work all day = Girls day out! We started out at one of my favorite nail salons. They hand you a menu and you can choose what treatments you want. We both decided on the "Beach Walk". It consists of a sea salt scrub, an aloe rub, plastic wrap and warm towels, plus a lavender lotion massage. It was heavenly.

Cute Brandi relaxing with her salt scrub sans children!

Then we headed to Rachel's Kitchen for some lunch. Afterwards we headed to H&M (Brandi's first time!) to look for some cute clothes for the kiddos. Brandi found some great finds and I think she is now wishing for H&M to come to Utah!

I had so much fun and hope she and Travis come back soon! Brandi was kind enough to get us a giftcard to Cold Stone- So that's where we ended up for FHE. We took Billy Elliot, I mean Lucas, along for the ride.

Here is my take home. In my defense I am still on a "Soft" diet. It is filled with my favorite White Chocolate with brownie and carmel. Can't wait to eat it while watching The Bachelor!

Lucas enjoyed his chocolate ice cream treat as well.... notice his lips:

We had a great day!

Why we love living in Las Vegas

Playing in the backyard in January... no jackets, soaking up the sun, having a great time with cousins!

It happened. Again...

Yes, it happened again. I got another Peritonsilar Abscess. I have had a sore throat since Christmas Eve, but just kept thinking it was a normal sore throat. Then I woke up a few days later and noticed my right tonsil was a little more swollen then it should be, so I went to urgent care. They gave me amoxicillin and sent me on my way. After a day I was feeling great and could swallow free from pain. Then of course I woke up this morning and over night my right tonsil had swollen completely and I couldn't open my mouth, swallow without screaming in pain and off to the doctors we went.

The doctor took one look and said "Oh yes, you have an abscess." To which I replied, "I know, I have had one before" And then the dreaded words came.... "You just bought yourself a tonsilectomy"I started crying immediately. He asked if I was OK, which I was, I just knew how hard the recovery is for an adult and quite frankly I am scared. But then came the three numbing shots, the scapel, and the pliars to squeeze out the infection (which by the way, the numbing is only for the scapel portion, there is no numbing solution for the pliar portion so you just sit there screaming with your husband holding you down while the doctor squeezes the infeciton out). The worst part was Lucas was in the room. It was such a quick decision to go to the Doctors we didn't have time to find a sitter, and I knew I couldn't go through it without Andy. I am SO grateful for the iPad. Andy turned Lucas around so he couldn't see me and put on a kid's show off of Netflix. Lifesaver!

At any rate, after the horrible procedure I realized having my tonsils out (even though painful) would be WAY better then EVER having to go through an abscess again. I would rather give birth to triplets with no epidural than have my tonsil drained. Seriously.

Fortunately for me I have a wonderful husband/caretaker/dad that took care of Lucas ALL day, picked up prescriptions, and bought lots of Golden Spoon to help me recover. So March 4th is the big day. Let's hope I can gain the courage to go through with it by then!

Cafe R & D

One of our favorite restaurants is Cafe R&D at Fashion Island. We seldom get to go because it is a little on the pricey side and it isn't really a place for children. Fortunately for us my mom and dad sent Ashley and I a giftcard for Christmas so we could enjoy a nice dinner sans children. It was the first time we have left Lucas with a babysitter that wasn't a family member so we were a little nervous.... but my excitement for pine room salad and pan fried fish of the day put me at ease.

Trying to switch it up...

Debating what to get for dessert...?

We decided to go home and have another family favorite-- Chocolate Malted Crunch.

I was a little anxious to get home to see how Lucas did... 

Only to find out that he could care less that mom was gone.... and Uncle Doodles awesome collection of Hot Wheels are his most favorite thing.

Also... Baby Shea does the cutest things. When you ask her to act out certain feelings she plays the part well.

 Scared.. complete with teeth chattering and shivering.

HAPPY!

MAD! Complete with hand on her hip... (I was about 2 seconds too late for a really mad face)

We had a great time in California and can't wait to go back in a few weeks. Thanks Mom and Dad for a great dinner!