Bloom Where You Are Planted

For quite some time I've I wanted to plant tulips in my yard. They're so pretty, easy to maintain and they come back every year-perfect! One problem-I know nothing about tulips. But I did know exactly who to call. My good friend Jennifer, who I lovingly refer to as the tulip queen. She served her mission in Holland and thus began her passion for tulips. I asked if she would help me, and she gladly agreed. So yesterday we planted 75 bulbs. I thought it was going to be a long day and be a long process, but we had it knocked out in no time! It was so good to spend the afternoon with her and catch up. She is such a good example to me and makes me want to be a better person. She is great listener and a great friend. After spending the afternoon with her it made me think about how the people you associate with truly have an effect on you. Whether for the good or the bad. There have been so many people that have been such good examples to me and may never know. But I do know the people who you surround yourself with, you become. So why not surround yourself with people that bring out the best in you, because it's true what they say...you do bloom where you're planted.

Tag...I'm it!

Okay, okay I know I was tagged awhile ago. I know I haven't been so great of a blogger lately, okay it's only been 2 weeks or so, but that's a long time for me. So I need to get back into the swing of the things. So I've been asked to list some info. on my hubby. So this should be fun, so here we go...
Where did you meet?
We are a Ricks College success story. Josh was working at Retrix as a bouncer and was going door to door selling tickets to a hynotist show. Came to my door and I bummed a free ticket from him. The rest is history.
How long did you date before you married?
We met in March of 1997 and were married in August 1997. So ya...pretty quick.
How long have you been married?
11 years...and counting.
What does he do that surprises you?
Josh usually isn't good at suprising me. He'll try with Christmas or birthday presents or something, but I usually find clues to what they are. I usually find his to-do list listing what he's getting me. But he does usually bring me home a treat of some sort when he's been out of town, which always puts a smile on my face.
What is your favorite quality of his?
He is a great deep cleaner and organizer. I hate organizing. I like things organized, but I hate doing it. He's great at organizing closets, cupboards, and drawers. Which works out great for me.
Does he have a nickname for you?
Kel
What is his favorite color?
Easy question...blue & white. Go BYU!
What is his favorite sport?
His favorite sport to watch is football. His favorite sport to play is basketball and football.
When and where was your first kiss?
On our second date, I know kinda soon, in his apartment while watching a movie.
Favorite thing to do as a couple?
We love to go out to eat. Without the kids. Or watch a movie together once the kids have gone to bed, that's when we break out the good treats!
Who said I love you first?
Josh. It took me long time to get myself to say it.
What do you most admire about him?
He's non-judgemental. He is quick to give people the benefit of the doubt. A great quality to have.
Do you think he will read this?
Hmmm...good question, maybe.

Follow the Prophet

I have to tell you I really enjoyed this weekend's General Conference. Sunday morning I made a yummy breakfast of Creme Brule French Toast, which we've decided is going to be a new conference morning tradition at our house. The kids had fun with their Conference Bingo packets and I genuinely enjoyed each talk. But the one talk that was my most favorite was President Monson's Sunday morning address. He talked briefly about the importance of raising a family and mostly on finding joy in life. He said although we may get frustrated with children's fingerprints all over, toys everywhere and piles of laundry, there will come a day when it will all be gone. And we will miss it. I honestly do think about that quite a bit. Sometimes it's the only thing that gets me through the day. That someday these kids will be grown and gone and I will wish for little fingerprints on my furniture. President Monson said a particular quote that really stuck out to me, he said, "Find Joy in the Journey-Now." I loved it!! I want that phrase in my home where I'll see it everyday. It's so important to find joy...now! It's there, every day, we just have to find it. Find joy in the little things in life, in our children, in service, in our callings. Like the quote on the top of my blog says, "The little things in life, often bring us the most joy." It's so true. I'm so grateful for a loving prophet that is aware of us mothers and our needs, and was inspired to say the words I needed to hear.

Peanut Butter Bandit

In the last few weeks Riley has developed a new craving...peanut butter! I can NOT keep her out of it. I'll put it up and lock the pantry door and I'll find her downstairs wrist deep in another jar! I swear this girl has a stash of peanut butter jars somewhere in this house, because I can't seem to hide them from her. And just the other night I laid down in bed and all I can smell is peanut butter. I turn on the lights and I find peanut butter prints all over my pillow case! She may be good at finding it, but she's definitely not good at hiding it!

Happy Birthday Riley Mae!

Yesterday was Riley's 2nd Birthday. We celebrated with a bunch family over for lunch and a party. We had pulled pork sandwiches (yes, another crock pot recipe) jello salad, chips and veggies and dip. Complete with chocolate cake with a Bavarian cream filling with huckleberry ice cream. Yum! Although we gave her our present a couple of weeks ago, she got all kinds of fun gifts from her cousins. One thing I've learned is that when you give a child candy as part of a gift, they suddenly don't care about the rest of the gifts. Uncle Spencer gave her a bunch of gummy worms and that was all she cared about the rest of the day. We got out the cake to sing to her and all she did was chew those darn gummy worms--which made it very difficult to blow out the candle. But once the cake was cut and being served she was first in line for her share. She is getting so big and is such a good girl. Despite the occasional tantrum and keeping mom on her toes, she is such joy to have in our home.

 

Tater-Tot Casserole

Okay Camille, here it is. As you may know I've been on this crock-pot kick and have been trying all sorts of new recipes. Most of which have all been really good. Well last night I made tater-tot casserole. Now I've baked that many times in the oven and used to get great reviews, but it's sorta one of those things where I made it so often everyone was sick of it. But last night I baked it in the crock-pot, which was a slightly different recipe this time and my kids loved it. We had a couple of the kid's friends stay over for dinner and everyone slicked their plates! Sometimes 3 times! I mean, I thought it was good, but my kids and their friends thought it was great! So here it is:

Tater-Tot Casserole

1 bag (32 ounces) frozen tater tots
1 can (8 ounces) chicken, drained
1/2 tesp. salt
1/4 tesp. pepper
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) green beans, drained
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) cream of mushroom soup, condensed
1 tabls. dried onion
1/2 milk
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Pour bag of frozen tater tots on bottom of greased 4 1/2 to 6-quart slow cooker. In seperate bowl, combine remaining ingredients except cheese and pour over potatoes. Cover and cook on high heat 3 hours or on low heat 4 1/2 - 5 hours. Half an hour before serving, sprinkle cheese over the top. (I cooked on low for only 4 hours and that was plenty of time.)

Things I Let the Kids Talk Me In To

So for awhile now Katelyn and her friend Kylie have been telling me that they want to go in on a hamster. And for anyone that knows me pretty well, knows that I am deathly afraid of rodents. Any rodents! Yes, even hamsters. Which is very odd seeing as how I had a hamster when I was Katelyn's age, I can't explain it. Anyway, I thought this hamster thing would go away and they would forget about it and move on. Well, it didn't, and they approached me on Friday and said they called Petco and found out that between the hamster, a cage, food, and everything else it was going to run them about $50. I then realized this hamster thing was not going away and they were dead serious. After much begging and pleading, I agreed and said only if it stays at Kylie's house. That satisfied them and they were very excited. They had most of the money saved already but were a little short, so they had a lemonade stand and made $13.00. (Not bad.) Between a few chores around the house and some promised future babysitting they had their $50. So I took them to the Petco that night and let me tell you, this was a real labor of love. Just looking at all the bags of hamster food with all the pictures of all the little rodents on the packages made me almost have an anxiety attack. The girls then went and picked out their hamster, which I advised them to do very quickly, and they soon were carrying it around in a little box. Ugh!! We went to pay for it all at the register which was quite an ordeal seeing as how over $20 was in coins! I really felt bad for the people behind us. The ride home was painful as I could hear the hamster scratching at the box the entire ride home. We made it home and set up the cage with all of it's food and water and the girls could not be more excited. They named him Mobey. It was almost time to take him to Kylie's house--his new home, when I was starting to feel a little bad for Katelyn. Katelyn had earned half the money and was willing to take care of it and yet it was going to stay at Kylie's all the time. She hadn't once complained about the living arrangements, I think she was just grateful I had agreed to any of this. I talked with Josh and we told Katelyn that she could keep the hamster at our house half of the time. She was so thrilled! I know...I'm crazy! So it looks like we'll be having a hamster at our house every other week. I don't know how this back and forth stuff is going to work and I really don't know how I'm going to handle this, but we'll see how it goes.