Modified Success

Last Tuesday I went to our State Farmers Market. I love the place. Whatever we aren't growing in our garden, I can find there. It's cheaper than our grocery stores and it's local. So, two pluses from me. I know it was getting close to the end of peach season and I hadn't canned anything. So, after buying a slew of other things, I also bought 90 pounds of peaches. Yep, 90 POUNDS! The plan was to slice and can like I had the year before. Paige is allergic to most fruit, but peaches are one thing she's not. So, being in the "year-supply" mode, I wanted to stock up.

The peaches were AWFUL! I had come home, found a ripe one, eagerly took a huge bite, and just as eagerly spit it into the sink.

So, Plan B.

I made peach sauce. With a little cinnamon and sugar, we had a winner.



Next year, I'll buy in the beginning of July and will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, buy white peaches again.

Shaun's Wedding

On June 5th, my younger brother Shaun was married. I was honored to be one of the bridesmaids. That was a first for me and I was so excited! Their wedding was wonderful.


I love my new sister-in-law. She is an amazing woman and a great match for Shaun.

Rylee's Baptism

Rylee was baptized on June 12.


What an amazing day; one of my favorite this year. My sister Jennifer and her husband Sky were out visiting from Utah, my mom was able to come down from MD, and my two brothers and their families came from around the beltline. (Shaun would've come, but he was on his honeymoon.)



Rylee got to share her special day with Evelyn Coombs.


And what makes this day even more important to remember is the fact that she got "double-dipped." David forgot a part of the prayer and it wasn't pointed out until Rylee was already undressed and changing.

I am so blessed/ pleased to have another daughter who chose to be baptized and to make covenants with our Father in Heaven.

And you wonder what keeps my husband so busy?

My dad lovingly refers to my husband as the energizer bunny. He never stops. I know I listed all the things he does on his birthday post, but that truly doesn't do him justice. He's working on his MBA, works his regular job 50+ hours a week, writes children's poetry, takes care of the garden, mows the grass, is currenly remodeling our master bath, and a plethora of other things. This is a link to some of his concept designs and illustrations on youtube. Hope you enjoy!

Long Time, No See

Yes, I know it's been two months, my friends. I have been so busy and so involved in other projects that I haven't really thought much about blogging. I know it has to be done because I have 4 birthdays, Rylee's baptism, my brothers wedding, and a 9 day vacation. Plus, let's not forget how many ingredient challenges I've missed writing about. Speaking on which, it was the ingredients that have led me back here tonight. I'll start small and finish up with the big stuff later on. Evan starts school on Friday, so supposedly I should have "more time".

Ingredient: Pesto

I have wanted to make it for quite some time. But, being as cheap (aka frugal) as I am, I can't bring myself to spend $9.99 on a 5 oz. bag of pine nuts. So, I found ready made pesto marked down at the store a couple of days ago and used it that night. I made Penne with Chicken and Pesto. It was nothing to write about. It did not have a lot of flavor. I added way more pesto than call for and still couldn't taste it. So, I added 1cup of water with 2 bouillon cubes, thickened with cornstarch to the dish and it tasted so much better. I won't make this again, but I am very excited to still have pesto to use with something else.


Ingredient: Dry Black Beans

I am burnt out on pasta so I wanted to make beans. I thought I had lentils but I couldn't find them. So, I went into the #10 Can food storage and pulled out my black beans. I made Feijoada. Would you believe I had all the ingredients on hand, including a Ham Hock! And I do declare Ethan, the hater of all things beans says, " Mom, this is really good." So, there you have it. Nothing more need be said.

Where it all began . . .

25 years ago, my friend Alyssa and I would sit together during Sacrament with feigned promises of listening intently to the talks. We ended up writing Mad Libs and laughing so much it hurt. Alyssa would write the Mad Libs and I would fill in the needed words and secretly wish I could write like her. But, for me, since I couldn't write, I began to read. I read because it made me laugh, it kept me interested in different subjects and it kept me busy.

From those Sunday morning Mad Lib sessions, my passion for books was intensified by the amazing "choose you own adventure" series. I would sit outside in my backyard, on top of the monkey bars and read for hours. Since this was the "dark ages" where we didn't have a color tv, VCR, cable, or computer, and my friends in the neighborhood were always busy, I found reading to be the best way to spend my free time. Through my teenage years, I dedicated less of my time to reading and focused more on spending time with my friends, seminary, poms, softball, work, etc. I still read, but usually just the assigned novels from school.

Since becoming a mother 10 years ago, I have loved picking up a book and escaping my chaos and dropping into other characters lives. The time I've dedicated to reading has certainly had an ebb and flow, but reading has been a constant in my life. But I have to say, I do secretly wish there were adult versions of choose your own adventure. But until that day comes, I will happily pick up this classic novel and once again become a spectator in another persons life.

Oh how I LOVE Shrimp

My ingredient this week was shrimp. Obviously I have never cooked it before but I have found a new favorite recipe. The shrimp was amazing. Yes, I'm patting myself on the back for not only making the incredible meal, but for also cooking it on the grill myself to perfection.

David won't eat seafood (except some fish) so I also marinated pork chops and grilled those along with fresh pineapple. I made rice with veggies to put the shrimp on. I am practically drooling as I write this. Seriously people, try this recipe. It is divine! I will DEFINITELY buy shrimp again.

End of an Era

As each week passes, something else of my children's baby/ toddler years seem to end. In a couple of weeks, Rylee is turning 8 and will no longer need to use a booster seat in the car. But this week, it's the end of using this amazing product. The Johnson's head-to-toe baby wash has been a dear member of our family for the past 10 years. We have now moved on to children's body wash but this empty bottle is a blatant reminder to me that my "baby" mama years are ending. It is truly bitter sweet.

Ingredient #11

Kung Pao Chicken



I have never made this before, but the ingredients I used that were new to me were Peanut Oil and Rice Vinegar. The recipe doesn't call for either of them, but I didn't have what was needed. It called for oil, so I used the Peanut Oil. It called for white vinegar, so I used the Rice vinegar. I can't say I know how these ingredients taste, but I really like the recipe, at least once I made the alterations others had suggested.

Next new ingredient: shrimp.

Undeserved Accolades

Our stake had their day of service this past weekend. It was a 5K family fun run in order to raise food/ donations for our local food bank. Our entire family participated, but with great trepidation and complaints by our kids on the length of the run. After reading the registration, I saw that we could use bikes and scooters. That was all needed to convince my kids they could indeed tolerate the 3.6 miles. During the race I received many a comments from friends looking at me on "my" scooter as I accompanied Evan around the course. BUT, to my utter embarrassment and dismay, I was awarded 3rd place in my age range for finishing the course in 27: 15 minutes. I did not accept the gift certificate that went along with the ribbon because I WAS ON A SCOOTER THE ENTIRE TIME!!! I feel badly for my friends and others in the stake who ran/ walked the entire way. To all of you, please know that I admire your ability to run that far and furthermore know that you deserved this award and not me. For a brief time, I considered training for next years run to redeem myself, but alas, it was a fleeting thought.