Swimming Lesson Pics

A Little Bashful

Give Me a Hug Tate! Jacob and my brother Stephan's Son Taiten.


Eating the Goggles. The first day he was chewing on those goggles like crazy. Its was so funny.

Swim Champs!

Found Them! I thought my camera ate these up. So, here's the pics from the first day of swimming lessons! Jacob and Tate just finished the first month of swimming and did great! Fingers crossed after next month they'll be little fishes! :)

Hi Grandma - Can't Wait to See You!

The VENT is WIDE OPEN

Watch out! Here I go!

Its hot. I'm tired. My uterus hurts. My dishes aren't done. My Barro's coupon is lost. We need another fan in the house. My car is INSANELY dirty and needs an oil change like 2000 miles ago. I cant find my ensign. Just paid $11 to return a broken half chewed (by my 3 year old!) DVD @ blockbuster.

on the other side

I'm blogging. Just had pizza for dinner. My kids are sleeping. I'm ignoring my housework, taking a pms pill and watching a movie tonight with a Dr Pepper, yes---full sugar, full caffeine, and lots of ice. My gas tank is full (saved $.20/gallon with Fry's card!). Heath is happy. I'm in my Pjs. Just got paid. Finally chose a health insurance plan. I'm going to California this weekend.

I guess I'll decide to go to bed happy...that list is longer. It wins.

j

If you were a guest in my house and these satin zebra sheets were on your bed---would you think I'm weird or crazy? The secret is---I wish I could have these on my bed---so I think I might settle for having them on the guest bed. I think zebra is so cute! The guest bed has a black comforter (which will never actually be used since we live in freakin hot az. The current sheets are white (for bleaching purposes) and I have an accent throw blanket that's hot pink. Yes, I'm just talking about nothing but I really want this sheet set. Currently, I can't justify it...but I can dream. oh--HERE's the link to this sheet set at walmart. Wait, I can order them for Lexi's bed! jk. no satin for a potty training 2 year old.

108.6 degrees right now

Need I say more?

What's for Dinner?

Wish Me Luck, Cheer Me On, Give Me Recipes!
The Challenge - 200 meals in 365 days!
What's the count? 17 (keep track with me on my sidebar!)

Week 6 - What's on the menu?

M: Ravioli & Spinach Bake, garlic bread

FHE Game & Treat Idea: Fruit Loop Bingo. Play bingo with fruit loops then make Fruit Loop Treats (like rice crispy treats). Use your favorite recipe or click HERE and just substitute Fruit Loops :) Make your very own custom Bingo cards HERE.

T: Avery Mexican Dinner (recipes coming---just need to post them on my MommiesRecipeBlog :)

W: Brown Sugar Crocpot Chicken, brown rice, veggies

Th: Chili Dogs & Mac & Cheese

Note: chicken hotdogs & meatless chili from a can (yup i said it, hotdogs, canned chili, and mac & cheese.) Sometimes I have to go for easy - bad for you - meals as to satisfy my urge to eat something us as unhealthy as Carl's or McDonalds. Its an American thing.

Fr: Spaghetti Squash, Dinner Size Chicken Salad

Sat: Heath, TBA
Sun: Heath, TBA

Treat Idea: Fruit Salsa & Sugar Cinnamon Chips

Maybe you've noticed: We don't really like onions or bell peppers and we don't cook with red meat very much.

Thankful Thursday

This is long overdue! I have so much to be thankful for and I need to get back to doing this! I'll start at number one again (:

This is my ongoing post dedicated to Blogging My Blessings! My goal for this post is to help me focus on the GREAT things in my life. The things I love and the love I have to give. Not all my posts will be mushy...

1. My Heath, he works so hard for our family and is such a great man. I love that he and I mirror each other's weaknesses as strengths. I'm happy that he's my kids' dad. I'm so crazy and off the wall sometimes and heath is the perfect father to balance that out with my kids. Sure, he and I have weaknesses and as a family we're not perfect, but I'm glad that we're in this together. I'm happy that we're both trying to be better people and better parents. I have a quote on a tile in my kitchen counter that reads, "We may not have it all together, but we have it all". I truly feel like we have everything we need...A loving and supportive extended family, 2 wonderful children that make us smile, a job (!!!!!), and the spirit of the Lord in our home to guide us and teach us.

2. The pool. I love that we're swimming so much this summer! Its so fun and the kiddos are loving it! Jacob is in swimming lessons and I think he might get the hang of it by the end of the summer. My parents have a pool in their community so they let us borrow the key! thanks mom! I'm sooooo thankful for this fun activity to help us keep cool.

3. Barros Pizza---thank you! When I'm feeling like I just can't make myself cook dinner...or if my dinner fails miserable---Barros Here I Come! Its so close and its only $12 for my little family of 4 to eat and its YUMMY.

My Jacob being Jacob

I'm waiting for the day---that the Dr. says----well, yes Jacob has OCD. lol. Not really, he just does funny stuff. This is some of heath's art stuff (sorry heath---i was watching him VERY closely....not 'watching closely' like when the kids drew with pen on the new couches or the carpet, or when the kids spilled red sugar on the carpet by the front door and tried to lick it up...this time was different. haha) He was making a circle with the markers and LOVING IT! I hope he's an artist like his dad. Oh, and I hope he sings, plays the piano, plays soccer and tennis, and speaks Spanish and Japanese. the list goes on and on. I'll spare you (:

I made hooded towels...kids loved them!

Random Pics of the Kids

Lexi making a face that totally looks like heath when he has a funny face.

haha.

We love ice cream.

Lexi Loves popcorn at the movies----yes she can see the movie. I really should get a booster thing for her---but its so funny to see her all folded up in the chair and it help her keep the popcorn close to her mouth. haha.

My mommy, Lexi, Sisters Kacie & Chelsey...then Jacob...not looking as usual.

Dinner Time! Any Recipes To Share?

Wish Me Luck, Cheer Me on, Give me Recipes!
The Challenge - Make 200 meals before May 19th 2010.
What's the Count? 15 meals! Wohooo!

Week 5
M: Chicken Parmigiana, Spaghetti noodles, veggies, & salad.
This recipe is from Once A Month Mom and can be adapted for OAMC cooking. I'm excited to try it!
FHE Treat: Cherry Cola Brownies

T: Ham & Potato Pockets, Eggs, Fresh Fruit
Sad face. I didn't love this recipe---not that someone else wouldn't...but I'm having a really hard time finding my cooking style and finding foods that I love. My heath and I have a certain 'flavor' of cooking that we love---not to say that it all tastes the same...but I guess I'm more picky than I thought and thats REALLY frustrating. Ugh. I'm having the cooking blues tonight. AHHHHH! I just want to be a cook...why is this so freakin hard. (yes---this is the side of julie that not many people get to see...sad, depressed about cooking, and wanting to give up on my goal----but this time I'm not going to!) 6/16

W: Tuna Celery Casserole, served over macaroni, garlic bread


Th: Chicken Stir Fry - don't have a recipe yet...just a box of frozen stir fry veggies and chicken. Looking for a good sauce recipe. HELP!?


Fr: Tacos with ground turkey, salad, veggies

Family Movie Night Treat: Banana Marshmallow Dip (with -hidden- squash!), apples

Sat: Preparedness Cook Out! (note: this family cooking does count towards my cooking...yay!)

So here's a preface----we're crazy.

The last date night we had we started discussing preparedness and food storage. As the homemaker I've made and effort to learn about cooking from my food storage from other blogs, taking a few classes, and talking to friends & family. Note: I'm yet to use wheat in a single recipe I've made. I need to change that!

Heath and I decided to make it a family effort and start having a Cook Out once a month (more frequently when its not 100 degrees outside!). The purpose of the Cook Out is to simulate an emergency situation. Our family, and possibly guests, will make a meal on our patio with camping type material, have fun outside games, and a little lesson on preparedness (something like teaching our little kids how to Stop, Drop, & Roll.). We're really excited and think it will be a blast for the kids! We won't make everyone pee in a bucket during these simulations---but we will try to make it as true to an emergency situation as possible---while still being reasonable and fun.

I'll post more details (as if you haven't had enough) after we try it for the first time and get the kinks out of it.

Sun: Heath, TBA

I've started keeping track on my sidebar...take a look at the count over there! :)

New Blog!!!

I started a blog for all the moms in my hometown of Maricopa!

http://www.maricopamommies.blogspot.com/

Come visit!
Show me some blog love with a comment!
Save it to your blog roll!
Tell your friends!
Email me deals you find and fun stuff you want to chat about on the blog.
I'm so excited....come see what its all about!

This one will now be a true family blog----not as many posts about my deals and coupon stuff :)
But please please please visit my other site---even if you don't live in AZ. I promise it will be helpful and fun :)

Chicken Pasta Salad

Recipe from Haily Warren

1 16oz pkg. Bowtie Pasta
2 cans of chicken
5 apples - peeled and chopped (i've only tasted it with green apples)
1 c. chopped celery
1 lg can pineapple tidbits
*drain the juice into a bowl...soak the cut apples in pineapple juice for a few minutes
1 c. mayonnaise

Dressing:
1 bottle of Coleslaw Salad Dressing - add just before serving.

OR

Make your own dressing with Miracle Whip, milk, cider vinegar, sugar. Click HERE for directions.


This salad is so yummy! Haily brought it to our craft night last night and sent me home with leftovers...yumm! I had it for lunch today. Thanks Haily!

announcement...(not that kind)...

When we were first married we had 2 crockpots. Heath's looked like the one above. We lost mine during the move in February and last week heath's broke. It stopped heating up. UGH! I love cooking with crockpot and its so much easier. I love coming home on Sunday to a yummy smelling meal when I'm super hungry and super tired. (I swear church is a marathon!)

Its this my chance----both crockpots are out of the picture---can I finally get my beloved Red Crockpot?!! YES!

So----yesterday at Target I purchased this crockpot pictured above. BUT ITS NOT RED!!! All I want in a stinkin RED CROCKPOT! Sad face.

Here's my reasoning for buying this crockpot instead of the one I WANT and secretly would KILL FOR! (jk...i know, dramatic)

-It was cheap...$19 (not as cheap as last years black friday sale...but i'll take it)
-It matches the appliances in my kitchen
-If I ever brake the inside part (the black bowl thing) or the glass lid...then I can use the old ones I have. Yay! Spare parts!

I made this decision with my brain---instead of with my heart---that beats only for a red crockpot.

So...it is with sadness and a watering mouth that I announce I have a new crockpot and it will be christened this evening with Cream Cheese Chicken.

-j

just rambling...

90 degrees today and slightly cloudy.

beautiful weather. ahhhhh. soaking it all up....cause next month i'll be hiding in my house...in front of a fan...with a super cold diet coke and fish crackers...playing legos with the kids all day cause we can't go outside...

just kidding. honestly, i don't think it will be that bad...but i guess time will tell.

while the kids are napping today...here's a list of what I'm not going to do:

dishes

bills

vacuum

weeding

laundry

clean the RED stain out of the carpet in my front room

chop up veggies for dinner

should i go on?

nope.

I'm going to watch a movie. Yup. 2 hours of all me time. Maybe I'll fold laundry cause I can't just sit there can it? Yes I can. Ohhh...I'm out of diet coke. Water works.

Note: Recently my heath emailed me - in response to a blog post I had. Its a little weird knowing that he reads my blog now. I wonder if he just skims it or if currently he's reading this post while he's at work...thinking..."well that sure sounds nice to watch a movie in the middle of your mommy work day". Lol. He understands. I'm a princess, princesses need beauty rest. I'm going to a craft night to night and I'm really excited.

-pj

Summer Fun - Pictures of the Kids!

Joining us for lunch----this past week when we went to the Zoo it was really early so the zookeepers were still getting ready for the day. In the Farm Area they had the chickens and other animals roaming around. The kids loved it. We had a little snack and guests! The peacock was behind Jacob hanging out and occasionally got a little too close for me. The stinkin Chickens were walking all over my feet and bugging Lexi. So funny. The other pics of this aren't loading. Ugh. My computer and camera hate me. We didn't feed any of them---they just wanted to hand out.

Jacob's First Day of Swimming Lessons! He's chewing on the goggle strap. He's doing pretty well at swimming lessons. He likes it enough to continue going and get in the water. yay! I'll take it! With family so close by - we're going to the pool often so Jacob and Lexi are loving it!

My Lexi thinks the fridge belongs to her. She grabs whatever she wants and comes to beg for it. She LOVES food. Currently her lips are saying, "PLEASSSSE"

Jacob sits by the door while he's waiting for me to finish getting ready. It seems like such an exodus every time we leave the house. You know, all the little things, like water cups, snacks, shoes, etc. Whats funny to me about this picture is that - WE DON'T EVEN EXIT THIS DOOR. HaHa. We go through the garage cause the car is in there. Lol. But this helps him feel like he's pushing me more to get out the door. Funny.

He also likes to wait by this door when Grandma is on her way over. They get SO excited when my mom comes. When she pulls up I let him, and Lexi sometimes, RUN out there to "help" her out of the car. They LOVE IT!

Lexi in the car. I love her hair.

Lexi and Jacob on Memorial Day at my mom's house. Playing the piano quite well. Jacob doesn't just pound on it. He carefully plays one note at a time (usually :). They like to play together.

Raisins, the kiddos and grandma Moss are picking up raisins. I love that my mom turns everything with the kiddos in to games and learning experiences. I just told Jacob to pick it up...and my mom turned it into a counting game. I feel so blessed that my kids can be living so close to my mom. She really is a GREAT mom and grandma.
Lexi, Jacob, and Cousin Tate.

Summer Movies! Yes, my kids are actually attending and LOVING the summer movies. Jacob doesn't always sit...but LEXI doesn't MOVE from her chair....NO JOKE! Its so funny.

This picture was from the first movie we went to..but last week----Lexi had a popcorn 4 inches from her face and she just ate popcorn and watched the movie the entire time. I was literally laughing out loud at her. I forgot the camera that time. Shoot. I'll try to get a picture this week (today!). Last week was Nim's Island---not even animated and she still sat there. That just shows you the type of child she is. I'm loving this Summer Movie thing. I remember going as a kid. Great Memories :)

Jacob at the Zoo---this was a new discovery for Jacob. He is usually walking at the zoo, no stroller, so i takes us a LONG time to travel through the zoo. BUT THAT'S GREAT----its always full of new discoveries for us. This exhibit is hidden in the trees and is a little pathway, I think it was ...something De Oro? I circled it on the map. It had a broken down truck, an old tent (indiana jones ride feel...). Also there was a white faced monkey, beautiful parrots, and this great fish aquarium. I loved it cause they were right at his eye level. We were seriously there for 30 minutes. It was also in the shade. Ahhh. Now I like that.

We have zoo passes and we try to go once a week. Heath's work is less than 5 miles from the Zoo so we make a day of it! We usually go to the zoo SUPER early, stay for about 2 hours (or less depending on the heat) then stop by daddy's work for a few minutes. I love it. This particular trip it was just me and the kids...other trips sometimes include some type of combination of ... my mom, sisters, Tenille & her kids.

Lexi has found her match. She loves this little girl in the Little People Play area at the Zoo. I've taken a million pictures the kids in this play area. Its so CUTE and so fun. It looks like the Little People Farm we have at home. There's even a barn!

Dinner Time! Recipes Anyone?

Wish Me Luck, Cheer Me on, & Give Me Recipes!
The Challenge -Make 200 recipes before May 19th 2010

What's the Count?
12 meals so far! I've totally doubled the amount of meals I've made since I was married, no joke. I'm so proud of myself. Making food for my husband (and kiddos) makes me feel so happy and so 'housewife'. I love it.

M: Chuck Steak with Garlic & Apple Juice Marinade (modified..see recipe link HERE) Serving with box of scalloped potatoes, zucchini, and salad.

*I have to brag about this meal...the meat I got for $.31 from a SUPER sale at Super Target using coupons, the Potatoes - FREE from coupons matched with a good sale, Zucchini - From the Garden :) , and the salad - FREE dressing from coupon matched with a good sale, lettuce & carrots $1 worth with this meal... So this meal is, what? $2?? And, it will (fingers crossed) be good enough for my heath to bring for lunch tomorrow...?!) Wohoooo! $2 for 2 meals!

T: Didn't cook----sad face. maybe cause i don't have a plan so i'm not motivated.

W: Mexican Chicken Soup

Yes, I did cook the soup tonight---but at the last minute my family decided to eat pizza instead. So I'm going to count this meal as COMPLETE! I'll just eat it tomorrow for lunch or something. the pizza was yummy. $11.95 for our family to eat at Barros. Yummy. Love that place.

Th: Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken ----see comment on this post...it has the yummy recipe. Thanks Melissa!

Yes, I cooked it and it was yummy! I was soooo sad tho because me heath did the dishes while I was headed out to the grocery store and when I woke up in the morning---HE LEFT IT IN THE CROCPOT! Ugh. All my yummy leftovers----GONE! sad face.

F: Heath, my girls night!

S: TBA, but NO cooking for me :)

S: Heath, TBA

I'm in trouble---I don't know what I'm cooking this week. When I don't have a plan I don't do it!!!! I think I made a list somewhere of what I'm cooking this week and I lost it. Uhhhh----improvise? I can't do it. So---this post is dedicated to..."I haven't forgotten but I'm struggling this week". When setting a goal I'm bound to run into some trouble...

Fingers crossed that I'll post my meal plan AND actually eat dinner tonight. Oh, heath made YUMMY jambalaya last night.

3 Meals Complete This WEEK 6/13

Cooking Itch!

So my heath must have had a cooking itch or something. Last night at 9pm he decided to make quiesh for breakfast. OooKaaaY>

He's been the cook for himself for the last 10 years. I think its a little weird for him to have me cooking. He's been able to cook a few meals on the weekends---but the weekday cooking is what he prefers for getting his mind off of work and the stresses of the day. My heath has a stressful job that takes a lot of his brain--ya, funny way to put it--but its not a 8-5 type of job and his mind and cell phone are always nagging him about work stuff.

Update: I've cooked 10 meals so far in my quest to cook 200 meals by May 19 2010!! I'm on track.

I feel so blessed to have my heath. He is so motivated to do his best at work and I really admire his integrity and hard working attitude. Too bad he'll never read this...lol.

-j

LOL! Thanks for pointing out the typo JenB :)

PHX Zoo - just random pics.

"No no no no no!" Lexi was so angry that Jacob was climing!

"That's a big wheel mom!"

All I need is my Diet Coke, I mean Water, and I'm good.

Playing Nicely...ahhh...YES!

Everything is a purse or a phone with lexi. love it.

Dinner Time

Begging the kiddos to eat the food...and they did it!

Start Fresh Mothly Goals:

Laundry...

Always have something to wear!

Ok, so the kids and I never have a problem with that...cause I buy too many clothes...but my poor heath never has clean work clothes...then at 10pm I'm throwing a load in so he doesn't have to go to work naked!

June Goal:

Keep up with the laundry.

see what this sign says----"same day service"...can I do it?!

The plan:

1. Clean the laundry room so I like to be in there.
2. Use yummy smelling laundry soap.
3. Always have a supply of hangers and baskets for fast service. :)
4. Tell my husband about my plan so I can get occasional high fives or 'thanks'!!!

What's your goal this month? Write it down & share it with a friend to keep you motivated!

CVS

Quick trip to CVS to get...

4 - disposable razor 2 packs.
2 - Campbells Tomato Soup
1 - bag of Doritos
1 - bag of M&Ms

Saved like 10 bucks+ yay.

TOTAL SPENT:

.07 cents.

Sweet. no ecb's involved, just 7 pennies. love it. no picture, having trouble with my computer and SD card.

June!

This picture reminds me of my buddy cari and doing fun mosaic crafts with broken plates! Miss u man.

Happy June!