My New Friend/Toy

One thing that I really enjoy doing is making bread. For Christmas Noelle gave me a recipe for a 6 grain bread and I have been trying to get it to work since then. It is a heavy bread and my kitchen aid was not cutting it...the first time I made it I tried to let it knead the bread and my mixer started to smoke. Then I resorted to kneading by hand (not fun) and my bread was still not turning out quite right. I was bummed and went back to buying store bought bread. I was dreaming of someday getting a Bosch Mixer, which I had both heard and researched are the best for making bread....well, I did not have to dream too long. Trent and my parents gave me a Bosch for my birthday and it is soooooo nice! I made the 6 grain bread recipe yesterday and it worked and it was delicious!!! I love it!
Now, one funny thing about me asking and dreaming for a mixer is that my parents gave Noelle and I both the Kitchen Aid mixers several years ago for Christmas. I was really excited about getting a mixer, but did not cook or bake much at that time. I remember my mom telling me to try it out and make sure it worked ok. So, having no clue what to try to make I bought a box cake mix and did that...my family thought I was crazy for mixing that in my Kitchen Aid, but at least I found out it worked:) Little did I know that just a few years later I would love to try and make things from scratch!

An Incredible Surprise!!!

The whole month of February my family kept asking me what I was going to do for my birthday. I kept replying just having dinner...the normal routine. The week before my birthday I told Trent maybe we should do something for my birthday since everyone keeps asking and I am turning 30...he replied with a lets just hang out and see if we feel like doing anything...ok I said a little bummed. Little did I know that he had the whole weekend planned out (and had been planning it since December)!!!
It all started on Friday with a surprise facial, lunch and an afternoon with Trent! Saturday we went to Jump On It, a shopping trip in the afternoon, and surprise party with family that night. I was so surprised at the party I was shaking, but it was so awesome to celebrate with the Brooks, McRaes, Ovards, Harm, mom/dad, and Trent/Lucie/Jack! It was the best end to a great day! I cannot say THANK YOU enough!
Sunday we celebrated again with a dinner and presents. We had a delicious dinner and great Cold Stone ice cream to top it all off. And then on Sunday night Trent surprised me again by telling me he had Monday off from work!
Trent had everything very organized and planned out and we had such a great time. I could not have asked for a better 30th birthday surprise!! Thanks to him and to all of my other family for helping him plan, for watching Lucie and Jack, and for helping me celebrate! I love you all!!!

Tasty Tuesday - White Chicken Chili

White Chicken Chili

In a large pot add:
1 can chicken broth
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
½ chopped onion
Garlic salt w/parsley

Boil until chicken shreds easily and is fully cooked. Reserve broth and shred chicken. Be sure to not have it too high or the broth will cook away. Can add a second can, if needed.

Add:
1 additional can of chicken broth
Shredded chicken
4 cans Great Northern white beans (drained and rinsed)
1 small can Herdez green salsa
2 small can chopped green chilies

Bring all ingredients to a boil. Then stir in about ½ of a large carton of sour cream until heated through.

Serve with crushed tortilla chips and cheese on top.

A Thing for Orange Juice!

Lately my little friend has been liking orange juice. Yesterday it was a getting to be a little quiet and this is what I found in the kitchen....

Jack had taken the lid off of the OJ carton and had filled 4 bowls from the play kitchen.

He had also reached a dishcloth and towel and was cleaning up any spills as he went along...

Luckily the OJ carton did not have too much left in it. I was not even upset...I was actually more curious as to what he was trying to accomplish and pretty impressed with his ability to pour! As we were cleaning up I was asking him what he wanted to do with the OJ?? Maybe he was going to eat the OJ with a spoon...I am sure he had some plans?!?
Jack's eyes are very animated when he talks. He moves them all around his eye sockets and then does different facial expressions. When he was telling my mom what he had done later he only said a couple of things, but his eyes were at the top of his head and his smile was huge...my mom said, "if your eyes could talk we would know the full story!" So true.

The Kindness Boat and Other Lucie-isms...

Lucie designed this boat all by herself. She needed to make one for her music class and so she layed it out and I helped her put it together. I am calling it the kindess boat because once she arrived at class one of her friends boats broke and she was sad. After class Lucie was so excited to tell me she had let her friend use her boat and she just pretended that she had one! I was so impressed with her willingness to share and that she was so excited about it...later in the day she ended up giving her boat to another friend because she thought she would like it. I am very grateful for Lucie's example!

Lucie loves to tell stories and incorporate what she sees and hears into her play. It is very entertaining to listen to her and these are some of the things that she has been saying lately....

2 new words that she likes to use are occasionally and fragile. She loves taking fragile items for show and tell...I think it is just so she can use the word!
We have been trying not to drink Sprite or any soda for that matter and a few weeks ago we were at a bridal shower at a restaurant. Lucie really wanted to get sprite to drink and I was giving her the choice between milk and water. My mom even said she would get water to drink. Lucie finally decided to get water and at the end of the meal we were talking about what an achievement that was to not get a sprite to drink. My mom made a comment where she said I am really going to try and not drink it and Lucie said in the most exasperated tone, "I just don't know if I can give it up!"

One night at dinner Lucie started to get upset and cry. We asked her to go to her room and calm down and then she could come back to the dinner table. She was gone for about 10 minutes, but when she came back she was very happy and talkative. She said, "I just sat in my chair and talked about it with myself!"She is very much into making up stories and seeing if we will believe them. Last week she came home and told us that Cosmo had come to her school class. She told the story to me, to my mom and Noelle, and to Trent. At first I believed her, but then she mentioned that I should not ask her teacher about it because it was a secret. I really started suspecting that it was not true when she added that Willy the Wolverine and the Jazz Bear both came as well. She kept up the story for a couple of hours and then when Trent asked her a question about it at the dinner table she said, "it really isn't true, I was just telling a story." What is amazing is that she is able to keep a straight face and sometimes they get pretty elaborate! We will have to watch out when she gets older...

A fun lunch...

Today Noelle and I took the kids to see our Grandma Taylor. When we visit her we try to take her on a ride and to lunch. Today are ride was to the egg plant and to Magelby's Fresh for lunch. Grandma loves to go to Magleby's and get halibut and Noelle and I agree it is the best!

I know that this does not look very appealing, but I had to take a picture anyways. Jack was enjoying his mixture of pancake with syrup, french fries, eggs and to top it all off he was dipping it in tarter sauce!! He was HAPPY and enjoying it so I say let him be!!

Lucie and Grandma are always so cute together. Lucie takes good care of Grandma and watches out for her. They were enjoying their own little conversation today!

Happy Painting!

To celebrate President's Day....

we had a lot of fun each picking out a dish to paint

and using 2 brushes to paint one bowl

and keeping Jack occupied enough not to make an escape!

Tasty Tuesday - Parmesan Popovers

I actually have not tried making these yet, but they looked really easy to make and they looked good. The recipe is from Giada DeLaurentiis who is one of my favorite food network people to watch. I love her show Everyday Italian. She cooks some interesting things sometimes, but I love to watch the ways she does things. I have learned a lot of great helpful techniques from watching her show. So, I am going to try making these in the next week...

Parmesan Popovers

3 eggs
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon Giada’s Tuscan Herb Mix (herb mix contains rosemary, sage, bay leaf, basil, marjoram, thyme, wild fennel and chili pepper-you can purchase this herb mix from Crate and Barrel...when I make it I will probably just put the seasonings that I like in it...be creative:)
4 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves
1 cup whole milk (I will use 1%)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan (about 5 ounces)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a blender, combine eggs, flour, salt, pepper, Tuscan Herb Mix, milk and cheese. Blend on medium speed. Spray a mini-muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour the batter into the muffin cups, filing each cup 3/4 full. Bake until puffed and golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. Remove popovers from muffin tin and cool on a wire rack.

Mom My Ride

So, I copied this link from my friend Jami's blog (I hope you don't mind), but this is really funny and wanted to share it as well...check out the clip for a good laugh:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEFE3B0Rje0

Disclaimer: The Schoonmakers do not patronize the sponsor of this little clip nor do we endorse the unfavorable title of the next clip!:) But the clip itself is very funny!

Congrats and Thank You!

My mom was recognized at her work this week for 20 years of service!! Her work was having a little reception for her. She was not very excited about the reception and kept trying to tell us the wrong time (she is such a humble person and does not want to be recognized in front of others). We wanted to go and support her and congratulate her on her huge accomplishment! My dad, Noelle, Brig, Jack, Lucie, and I decided to surprise her with balloons and lunch. We arrived right in time to see her being recognized and receving her certificate!!! CONGRATS!!
I also wanted to brag for just a minute about my mom because she is the BEST! On Valentine's day my family (my mom/dad, Nick/Noelle) decided we would have dinner together. We each made something for the dinner and when I went over to my mom's house she, of course was being so creative had made a heart sugar cookie and had stopped at the store to get some Valentine's balloons. She is amazing because she is always thinking of extra things to do and always wants to make every experience special. I love my mom and appreciate all that she does for us...THANK YOU!!

Happy Valentine's!!!

Jack's New Trick...

Last week I opened our pantry doors and bent down to get a garbage sack. All of sudden I could feel something next to me. I glanced over and then jumped so far back I hit the wall in our hallway...Jack was sitting on our case of water in the dark pantry (he had the doors completely closed) eating mashmallows! This was the first time that he has done this and I think he was pretty proud of himself for scaring me and for managing to get himself a snack and for being sneaky by staying in the closet to eat it! Our pantry is not that wide so I don't think I ever thought either of the kids would hang out there...I will be more careful from now on!!

"The Candy Shoppe"

Lucie and Jack love to play outdoors even in the freezing cold (and the fresh air helps them sleep so well)! On this particular day a few weeks ago Lucie immediately headed up the steps of the swingset. They were pretty snowpacked and I was not sure if Jack was going to make it, but he followed right behind Lucie, not to be out done! They were heading to the "candy shoppe" as Lucie calls it. The icicles are the "candy" and Lucie LOVES to eat them!

She was in a daze eating her icicle...

She had to show me the big icicle that she safely brought down to the bottom!

I included this picture of Jack in the house...he was not able to get the doors open because of the snow but he was bound and determined and went through the window. It was a bit of challenge being bundled up like a snowman, but he made it! Where there's a will there's a way (especially with Jack)!

Purse Tag

My friend Mandi tagged me to show my purse...the rules are -
1. You have to show your bag.
2. Show all the contents of your bag, no cleaning it out!
3. Tag 5 people

Well, Mandi you tagged me on the craziest day of our week...so needless to say by the end of our crazy day my purse is a quite a collection! This was a good excuse to cleanout my bag and show my stuff...so here goes.
I have a menagerie of receipts, happy meal toy wrappers and carmel apple dippers, pens, snacks, calendar, wallet (that is broken but I have been too lazy to switch back to an old wallet and too cheap to buy a new one:), grocery list/to do list, a little bit of change, lip balm and Jack's story time project!! When I cleaned out all of the stuff I had to take a picture of the crushed graham cracker at the bottom of bag...that was last weeks snack! Believe me my purse looks a lot better now!!

I tag anyone who reads this and is up to the challenge of going through their purse!!

Tasty Tuesday - Chicken Sate

Chicken Saté

Marinade Ingredients -
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1-2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 1/2 pounds of chicken cut into 1 inch cubes

Sate Sauce -
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce, or to taste
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 scallions, chopped (optional)

1. Whisk all marinade ingredients together in a medium bowl, add chicken cubes, turn to coat, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
2. Heat the oven to 500 degrees. Either thread the chicken onto skewers or just put the pieces on a foil lined pan. If you use skewers be sure to soak them in water 1 hour beforehand. Bake for 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
3. For the Sate Sauce...whisk together the broth, orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, and sugar in a small saucepan until the sugar has dissolved. Over low heat whisk in the peanut butter (it will be messy at first) until smooth. Whisking constantly, heat the sauce until it has thickened, about 10 minutes.
4. Add the optional scallions. Serve the sauce as a dip for the chicken along with any cut up raw vegetables.

Lucie and Jack both really liked the sate sauce! We dipped the chicken, cooked zucchini and squash, and carrots in the sate sauce. This recipe came from familyfun.com.

We are so BLESSED...

Yesterday Trent and I had the opportunity to attend the Worldwide Leadership meeting. It was an amazing meeting. All through the meeting I could not help but think how blessed we are to have church leaders who are so inspired, to have so many church resources, and most importantly to have the restored gospel in our lives. Just a couple of the amazing words that were spoken...

Sister Lant (General Primary President) "Our needs are met when we take care of another's needs."

Elder Oaks "We cannot live in fear." Then paraphrasing a scripture he said, "Perfect love (of the Lord) casteth out all fear."

There were so many uplifting and encouraging thoughts that the general leaders shared. It is always comforting to receive so much reassurance and positiveness, which is opposite of what we receive from the world.

If you did not have a chance to attend the church website said the material would be available before the end of February.

Congratulations Nicki!!!

We are so excited for Trent's sister Nicki....she is graduating from BYU in April and then is going on to grad school! She has been accepted into several physical therapy programs and has chosen to attend George Washington University. Her story of being accepted into this school is really awesome. She went there a few weekends ago for a chance to see the school and while she was there she was told the director of the program wanted to meet with her and she was given her acceptance letter! They were so impressed with her application!
Nicki we hope that you do not mind us blogging about you, but we are so proud of you and think it is awesome all of the opportunities that you have been blessed with. We will certainly miss having you close by, but we know you are going to do great things! CONGRATS!

Tasty Tuesday - Corrie's Kentucky Pie

This recipe is from Paula Deen's Home Cooking show and it is VERY good. Noelle and I were watching her show a couple of weeks ago and saw her make this recipe and were wishing we could reach through the tv to get a piece. So, I made it on Sunday and it is super easy plus it tastes really good and it looks gourmet!!

Corrie's Kentucky Pie (it is supposedly a pie that is served at the Kentucky Derby)
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups sugar
1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate morsels, melted
1 cup sifted self-rising flour
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups chopped pecans
2 (9-inch) deep dish unbaked pie shells or 3 (9-inch) unbaked regular pie shells

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine eggs, sugar, and melted chocolate in large bowl. Add flour and mix well, stirring in remaining ingredients except for pie shells. Bake 30 -40 minutes (mine took an hour to bake).

Serve warm with ice cream or whip cream (if you are Paula Deen you serve it with both)!!

Dr. Jack

Trent has not been feeling very well the past couple of weeks. He has been dealing with kidney stones. I do have to mention that he is the biggest trooper because he has continued to go to work and not complain and on Saturday when he was suffering from one he even scrubbed our kitchen floor while I was gone! Sunday night it was a different story...it was the most painful one that he can recall having. I know it had to be pretty bad because he asked to go to the emergency room. We did go, but did not stay very long because it was very busy and he said he would rather be in pain at home.
Anyways...he is feeling a lot better today just really tired and so the cutest thing happened this morning. I told Jack not to climb on dad because he was not feeling well. After a few minutes of laying by him he jumped down off the bed and ran and got his doctors kit and came back as Dr. Jack and started checking Trent. I thought this was really sweet and caring of him! Thanks Jack!

Nick & Noelle's Annual SuperBowl Party!

Nick and Noelle held their annual Superbowl party on Sunday. Nick's family, my mom and dad, and a few friends all came. I have to admit I was looking forward to the food. I LOVE good food and to snack...a great combination on Superbowl Sunday! It is kind of like a holiday party after the holidays! We are a little bummed and little in shock that the Patriots did not pull off the win, but oh well life goes on!

Jack was trying to escape from this picture, thus the funky look on his face! Jack was excited that Noelle had an extra jersy for him to wear as well...thanks!

Remembering President Hinckley

Since President Hinckley's passing on Sunday January 27th there have been so many thoughts and memories shared of President Hinckley in newspapers and on the news. What an amazing man to be able to touch so many people of our faith and not of our faith. I would like to record my own thoughts/memories as well.

I am very thankful for President Hinckley's teachings and his example of service. He is the first prophet that I think I really appreciated. He became president while I was in seminary and I remember loving all of his teachings and his smile/humor immediately. The six B's are probably my favorite thing. I was serving in a primary president at the time President Hinckley taught them. In a February issue of the Friend soon after that a sharing time taught the children about the six B's and encouraged the children to send a valentine to President Hinckley. This was something our primary did together and I was impressed and grateful for all the children's thoughts to President Hinckley. He truly has had such an impact on the youth of this church.

After we learned of President Hinckley's passing on Sunday night Lucie asked Trent to write some thoughts down for her and this is what she said..."President Hinckley...I love the prophets. I love Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost." Later that night in her prayers she blessed that President Hinckley would be happy in his new home and even though we miss him that he would be happy with his wife. Her sweet testimony touched my heart and even now I cannot type this without tears in my eyes. I hope that she will always have a testimony of the gospel and have a desire to have it be a part of her life.

I want to share another picture of President Hinckley that I came across this week. It came from the BYU Alumni Magazine. We see so many pictures of his face and this caught my attention because I think it shows how thoughtful he is and how he pondered and appreciated the blessings of our day. There are so many more thoughts I could share, but most importantly I want to remember and others to know how grateful I am for a prophet.

President Hinckley looking at the Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center on the BYU campus on the day that it was dedicated.

A few of my favorite thoughts from President Hinckley -

"I am absolutely confident that heaven will smile upon us. The Lord will hear our prayers if we will commit ourselves, giving our very best to this work" (Worldwide Leadership Training, Jan 2004).

"With all of our doing, with all of our leading, with all of our teaching, the most important thing we can do for those whom we lead is to cultivate in their hearts a living, vital, vibrant testimony and knowledge of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, the Author of our salvation, He who atoned for the sins of the world and opened the way of salvation and eternal life. I would hope that in all we do we would somehow constantly nourish the testimony of our people concerning the Savior. I am satisfied—I know it’s so—that whenever a man has a true witness in his heart of the living reality of the Lord Jesus Christ, all else will come together as it should. … That is the root from which all virtue springs among those who call themselves Latter-day Saints" (Inspirational Thoughts, Ensign Aug. 1997).

Six B's -
Be Grateful
Be Smart
Be Clean
Be True
Be Humble
Be Prayerful