Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce

Many of you asked last summer about where I got that very yummy sauce for my pulled pork sandwiches and I told you Costco. Well, after I told you that, they stopped carrying it, until now. It is back on the shelves in the condiments isle, by the BBQ sauce. It is awesome and for those of you who wanted to buy some, now is your chance.

Pictures added!

I added a picture to the Date Night post. I am not a big fan of pregnancy picture, but Savannah took that one and she took it at a good angle and it is one of the few pics of Ben and I so I added it.

I also went ahead and took a pic of myself and added it to the feelin frumpy post. I am proud to say that at 21 weeks I still have cheek bones. Hooray for me!

Thanks Maria!

Savannah wore this to church on Sunday. It is one of the dresses that Maria sent for her. This is a sweater that Maria sent. Savannah picked the hat, she is really into posing and accessories. Wonder who she got that from?

feelin frumpy

I haven't been feeling like myself lately. I have been chalking it up to being pregnant and the winter blues. But today, this morning, I realized that I needed to shake things up a bit. I needed to not settle for my mousy brown, faded, hasn't been colored since before we went to Sioux City for Christmas hair. I have been growing my bangs out and this morning I got up and realized that I had in fact "let myself go". So while Savannah was at preschool, I ran to Target, bought some hair color and decided to recut my bangs. Wala! I feel great. No more frumpy mummy. I feel a little bit like a rock star to be honest. I am so grateful for a 7.99 box of Mocha Brown Haircolor by Loreal.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?You are a Child of God.Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others."

I am not sure who said the above quote, but it really spoke to me on a very deep, intimate, personal level. I read it on another blog and had to copy and paste it. I am one who has a hard time liking myself, and an even harder time loving myself. This brought a new light to who I am and what the means. I am the daughter of God. Unique, wonderful, flawed and responsible for what the world perceives of me. Do they see a strong, happy, daughter of God? Do they see His reflection in my countenance? I need to try harder, I will do better to show the world that I know who I am.

Savannahisms

"Mom, my foot is sparkling! I don't like it when it sparkles!"

I couldn't figure out what on earth she was talking about. Then she showed me how she had been sitting on the floor and her foot must have fallen asleep and when she stood up, it started to "sparkle". I thought was a wonderful way to describe that feeling.

How do your kids describe that feeling? I will forever call it sparkling.

Tagged- #4

This is the following-

1) Choose the 4th Picture Folder on your Computer.

2) Choose the 4th Picture.

3) Explain the Picture.

4) Tag 4 More People to do the Same.

This picture was taken 1/18/08, nearly a year ago to the date. It was when Austin's two front teeth had fallen out and I was joking that he looked the exact same as he did when he was born, cute, happy and toothless. Those two front teeth were missing until just last month, when they both finally came in.

What a great day to reflect on Austin and the joy and source of happiness he is in our family. I don't know anyone more loyal. He has a gift for making people comfortable around him and people are drawn to him. He is very likeable. He is my sunshine!

I tag the following; Lindsey, Helena, Leah, and Rachael Stokes.

Happy 7th B-day Austin!

Austin at this years air show at Nellis.
Also, this fall at the air show.

Austin being a big brother. I found that he pulled her on to his lap alot! Here he is barely 3.

Doing what he likes to do most, playing in dirt. This was while building the house in Iowa.

Nothing says "the Boss" like hard hat and baby blanket!

Happy birthday to my best boy! I love you so much and I am so proud of the great kid you have become. I love your ease of laughter and your ability to make friends.

You are doing so great in school and I am proud of how hard you work.

I hope this is a great year for you. He said yesterday after church that his goal this year

was to read the Book of Mormon in the next year so that he will be ready for his baptism. I am so proud of your desire to choose the right and be an example to those around you.

I will do all I can to make sure that you meet that goal and any others you set for yourself.

Have a great day!

Love, mom

Date night!

How many dates did Ben and I go on in 2008? After deep thought, I don't think we went on any single dates last year. We went on a couple double or group dates, but none where it was just us. This was one of my unspoken resolutions for this year, quarterly dates with my husband (monthly is too expensive).

Last weekend we left the kids with some friends and went to an Emergency Preparedness seminar at church. It was alot of good info and sadly, I had forgotten how nice it was to just be with Ben. Last night, we actually got a sitter and went to a wedding reception. It was fun. After that we went to Walmart and got Austin's birthday present and candy for his gift baggies and because I was hungry, we stopped and got a bite to eat. It was an early evening. We were home by 9:30, but it was wonderful. We talked and held hands and even danced a little.

I may be the last person to see the importance in this, but I do now. I don't want to be married to him for 25 years and suddenly realize I don't know him, he doesn't know me, we have nothing in common and come to the ugly conclusion that I don't really even like him anymore. I have seen that happen in my own life and vow to not repeat that.

All in all, it was a great date and I look forward to doing it again.

A welcome visitor

Last night my sister's husband, Nathan, was in town and stopped in to say hi and to deliver Austin's b-day present and some clothes for Savannah from Maria and some much needed and wonderful maternity clothes for me. We had a great visit and the kids took to him almost immediately. They cried when he left, but were very happy to know we will be seeing him and the rest of his family in April.

Savannah immediately took to this sweater and actually slept in it last night. Yes, she is wearing it again today. Thank you Maria! She loves everything!

Bella Bella Dancerella

Savannah had her friend Maddy over last week and they were playing Bella Bella Dancerella. For those who don't know what that means, it is a video that the girls dance along to. This is the video of the girls dancing, I think it is a hoot!

Especially watch for Savannah's new favorite thing to do in the whole world, flip her hair. Can you count how many times she does it?

Again, sorry it is so dark, I don't know how to fix that.

Oreo Bars

Lots of you love the homemade Oreo cookies (Kristie), and I found the yummiest recipe for bars that taste just like the cookies, and they are totally easy to make!

1 box of Devils Food Cake
1 stick butter, melted
1 egg

Mix until smooth. Press into 9x13 inch greased pan.

1 package cream cheese, softened
1 pd powdered sugar
2 eggs

Mix well, pour topping onto top of cake mixture. Bake 350 for 35-40 minutes. Let cool.

They are so yummy! You can't eat much though, they are really rich. Enjoy!

I need some suggestions

What is your favorite book or your favorite author? I am in need of some new reading material and I want your suggestions. I will read any genre, so have at it!

nothing much to say

I didn't want you to think that I had forgotten to post, I just have nothing to report. Things have been busy trying to get back in the swing of our daily lives. Austin has things going every evening all week. M, W, F he is at Sylvan from 4-6 and T and Th he has b-ball practice with games on Saturdays. Savannah still has preschool on T, Th and speech on M,W.

I am going to the perinatalogist every other week for scans to make sure my cervix is staying closed, which is a risk factor for preterm labor after a D&E, then I have my regular Dr visits monthly.

That is all that is going on at the moment. Hope you are all doing well and staying busy.

goals for 2009

I have a couple things that I want to get back to, or things that I want to better about myself this year.

I use to buy the kids clothes a season ahead so that when it came time that they needed them, I already had them and I got them on closeout. I need to get back to doing that. Instead, I have just been buying what they need when they need it. That means I am paying more for them. I want to get away from that.

I also want to learn how to make good homemade bread. Everyone I tell this to says, "So and so has a great recipe." That is great, but what I need is someone who can come into my home, and walk me through it. I don't have a Kitchen Aid, so I need to learn how to kneed it and all that jazz. If anyone can do that great, if anyone can tell me someone who would be willing to do that great.

Also, Ben and I have (for the first time) actually sat down and made a budget for 2009. I am thrilled that he did this for our family, but other than having the monthly breakdown of our bills, I am not sure how to apply it on a weekly, daily basis. I need to figure out exactly what needs to be paid out of which paycheck, and such. This will be my greatest challenge of the year, but is the one I am most looking forward to! I am more controlling than I ever thought I could be, so once I get my mind wrapped around this, I know I will love it.

Also, this year I want to take a trip out to see my sister. I will also continue to add to our food storage and my grandfather said we could have one of his 5 wheat grinders so all we have to do is have that sent.

Those are the things I want to be working towards this year. Wow, notice losing weight isn't even on there. Guess, I have finally realized that I have more important things to work on then the size of pants I wear or the number on the scale. I am sure it will be priority numero uno next year though!

Hope this year is equally as productive for you!