Church.

I am a church going girl. An every week church going girl. Even though I don't always want to. Well, most of the time I don't want to. But I go. Because I want blessings. It might be a little selfish, but it's true. Not that I don't believe in it.... I just don't have the attention span for it. Either do my kids. Most kids don't. ANYWAY!

Point A. The princess cries every week about not wanting to go to church (mind you, she doesn't hear me complaining), but she never "feels good" or whatever. Don't blame her really. But we make her go. Because it is the right thing to do.

Point B. My little boy decided to throw a full coloring book at an "older" lady (probably 45 but that is old in my ward) sitting behind us yesterday. It hit in her in the head. She didn't like that too much. I had to act mad, and then hide my face because I was trying not to laugh out loud. What kid just chucks a whole freaking book at someone? And then a crayon at another lady?! And a little horse in the girls curls in front of us?!

You might be wondering where we were the whole time?! I was up on the stand leading the music for one incident. And the rest, we were just sitting there trying to pay attention to the speakers. I took him out in the hall (after fighting with the husband who also wanted to take him out), but he thought it was just time to run around and hit the big Jesus pictures and kick the doors before I could get to him. What a little rascal. So, if you think your child is bad at church... I bet mine is worse.

Monday's Meal

Disclaimer: I got this recipe from My Kitchen Cafe:

Teriyaki Meatballs

*Makes about 16 meatballs

Meatballs:
2 pounds ground beef (at least 90% lean)
2 eggs
2/3 cup bread crumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons milk

Sauce:
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 3/4 cups water
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey

3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water

For the sauce, in a medium bowl mix the soy sauce, 1 3/4 cups water, ginger, garlic powder, brown sugar, honey and cornstarch together. In a separate small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch into the 1/2 cup cold water. Set both bowls aside.

For the meatballs, in a large bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients except for the ground beef and mix well. Add the ground beef and mix until combined. Form ground beef mixture into 1 to 1 1/2-inch meatballs. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat two tablespoons oil over medium heat until the oil is rippling and hot. Add the meatballs to the hot skillet and brown on all sides, turning with a pair of tongs. The meatballs don’t need to be completely cooked through, just equally browned on all sides.

When the meatballs have browned, pour the sauce ingredients over the meatballs and gently turn the meatballs to coat them in the sauce. Heat the sauce until just simmering and add the cornstarch/water mixture, carefully mixing so as not to break apart the meatballs as you combine the cornstarch mixture with the teriyaki sauce. Simmer the meatballs and sauce over medium heat, maintaining a constant simmer but not cooking at too high of a boil, until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce is thick and smooth (if the sauce becomes overly thick, add a tablespoon of water at a time to thin), about 10-15 minutes, turning the meatballs every two or three minutes to ensure even cooking. Serve over rice or couscous.

These were simply amazing. I made them tonight for dinner and it will definitely be in my recipe rotation!!! So good... and fairly simple as well! Enjoy!

Dinner.

I have always thought that dinner time was a time to spend good quality time together as a family. Where we all gather around the table and share how our day has gone and such. This is how our dinners go almost every night. Jealous now!?


Yeah. Good day for her huh?!

Stretch marks.

Yes, yes, yes. It is time for me to rant about another body issue that I have. You're stoked right?! Just to know that I really am not as perfect as I seem!? So... from the title, you should know what I am going to moan about... A lot of people have them. Mainly women, but men, and even some teenagers if they grow too fast! (I try to make myself feel better about it). Either way, I am one of the unfortunate ones that have them. I got them two weeks before I gave birth to my first child. I thought I was free since I had made it 38 weeks without any. And then it started... the itching got worse and worse, and then I noticed that little red line right under the place where my belly button used to be. And then I noticed a few more the next couple of days, and well- you get the picture. And they hurt! I never thought they would hurt, but man did they hurt! I was pissed! (yes Mom, I know that didn't sound very lady like). If she only would have come two weeks early, I would have been SCAR FREE. But. She didn't. And now, I hate it. And I have this layer of fat in between my stomach muscles and skin, plus the stretched out skin (obviously I don't have much elasticity in it) and no matter how much weight I lose, it is ALWAYS there. ALWAYS... And kind of looks like cottage cheese. Is that WAY too much information!? Probably. At least you don't have to look at it. I am SO jealous of all of you women that have stretchy skin. I don't even want more kids, just for the fact that I don't want to think about what my skin will end up looking like... UGH.

Stretch marks SUCK.

Monday's Meal

Caramelized Chicken {Wings}

3 lbs chicken wings (or strips, breasts, whatev you like)
2 TBS olive oil
1/2 c. soy sauce
2 TBS ketchup
1 C. honey
2 tsp. minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place chicken in 9x13 pan.
Mix all ingredients together and pour over chicken.
Bake for one hour, or until sauce is caramelized.

Serve with rice, potatoes, or veggies! Yum!

The age of the mini-van!

DISCLAIMER: I do not judge anyone for wanting, owning or inheriting a mini-van.


I have friends that drive mini-vans. My friends husbands drive mini-vans! And they LIKE it. I cannot even believe that I am old enough to consider driving a van. I remember the brown van that my parents used to drive. And we were so embarrassed to be seen in it, that we would slide down in our seats or pretend we were picking something up, when we drove by people we knew. Luckily, before we got too old, they upgraded to a van with tinted windows. But I remember having conversations with my friends that we wouldn't be caught dead in a mini-van. SUV's were just becoming popular, so we were for sure that we would all drive one.

Needless to say, most of them drive mini-vans. I am twenty seven. TWENTY SEVEN. That is WAY too young to be even considering a van. Old, soccer moms drive vans. Or so I thought. Until the Honda Odyssey arrived. And now, everyone drives a van. Honda's, Hyundai's, Mazda's, whatever kind of van there is. They have it. And don't look like total dorks. But once again, I AM TWENTY FREAKING SEVEN! When did it become cool to drive a minivan? Since they have automatic doors that open and close at the push of a button, they have DVD players, or a trunk that can store half of a grocery store in it!? Or is it because they have seats that go up, down, back, forward and around?! I am hoping that I will not resort to driving a van (no offense once again) cosidering I drive an "old school" SUV with enough seats to hold five possible children. But if I do... at least I'll be with the "in crowd."


-----Niece

Monday's Meal

Pasta Marinara w/Italian Veggies

1/2 c. Olive Oil
1/4 c. chopped onion
2 TBS. minced onion

Saute together until onions are clear.
Add:
1 tsp. each salt and sugar
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 TBS. dried basil
28 oz. can diced tomatoes
28 oz. can tomato puree

Stir and simmer for 15 minutes.

Italian Veggies (sauteed)

Red Peppers
Yellow Onion
Squash
Zucchini

Saute in a little bit of butter or olive oil.

Cook any type of noodles, add marinara and then top with veggies! So yummy.

***This sauce makes a ton, so you should be able to freeze half of it for quite awhile.