Time to say goodbye...

So, I've been packing and packing and packing...and I keep thinking I should be done by now, ya think? Well, we are almost there, and should be out by Wednesday. With all these brown boxes scattered and stacked around, holding most of the things that once had a place in my house, has made me reflect on our home and how much I really do love it and will miss all the great memories we made here with family events and all the wonderful friends we made.

Mark and I moved in and immediately got to work, painting and designing the interior, then landscaping the backyard and adding a patio with a second story deck. It didn't all happen overnight, but I think that's part of enjoying the journey and appreciating all the work put in, for after its all done, is sweet bliss! We have put in lots of long hours with elbow grease and deeply tried to make it a very happy place for us and our kids to live. Along with home improvements came good friends with tons of love for our family...and on that note...

If I didn't have a confirmation from my Heavenly Father that this was right for us, I definitely WOULD NOT be moving! I have had to remember and ponder often this past week, why we are doing this. There is something funny to me about getting in my comfort zone, because right when I feel complete contentment, its time I have to grow in other areas...obviously this is all on the Lord's timetable! I am reminded AGAIN, that its not easy being the new kid on the block. Now I will try and have more empathy for people who move into the ward, and for sure make more of an effort to befriend any face that's unfamiliar. I love the saying, "You have to be a friend to have friends."

I know that once we are settled and not living with a brown box around every corner in the house, that I'll be counting my blessings a little more, instead of feeling like my house has just been turned upside down. I LOVE more than anything to have a clean house, having a place for everything to go just makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside :) So on the bright side, with a bigger house, there will be more space to put everything!!! I'm giving myself a pep-talk through this post, and its helping me pull out of the fog I've been in for a couple of days now.

This is getting longer than expected, and thanks to all those who are still reading! I'm not sure when we'll be posting again, we STILL haven't signed on the house! You may ask why? I have been asking that for over a week now...so when I figure it out, I'll post it!! Its looking like we might be having to stay over at my parents' house for a few days (hopefully none at all for this reason: I don't want to move our stuff twice! But we are VERY grateful for their hospitality if circumstances permit!)

Wish us luck...we will need it this week :)

Mark's Take Over Part II

Today I am thankful for Stacy. She has been so great lately. We are in the process of moving and she has done 98% of the packing. Actually, it is probably more since I have only packed up 2 boxes. Yesterday was national "take your child to work day" and since Stacy's sister is in Hawaii, we took our neice Lexy for the day. Lexy took such good care of Bryanna all day by playing with her that when I got home the house was like twice as packed up!!! Thank you Stacy for all that you do. I could never get as much done around the house with 2 kids around like you do. Love you Love you Love you...

Mark Takes Over...

I thought it was about time that I took over this whole blogging thing, and maybe say something that some of the husbands will care about. (No offense honey, but I have hardly heard anything about sports on these blogs). As many of you know, I am one of the biggest Oakland A's baseball fans. What was supposed to be an utterly disappointing year has started out very well. We are currently tied for first place with the Angels. The big news of this week is that the A's re-signed the "Big Hurt" Frank Thomas. The Blue Jays released him on Sunday and the A's picked him up. The nice thing about it is that the Blue Jays are responsible for paying him the rest of his contract, which is about $8 Million this year, while the A's have to pay him a measly $350,000.

In other sporting news, I am playing in a golf tournament tomorrow with T-Money, The Bish, and Cal Sanders...We'll let you know how it turns out

Wedding Anniversary

Mark and I have now been married a whapping 4 years now! I say that because I feel like I've known Mark my whole life, but we only met until after his mission. It has been the best years of my life. He is so sweet and spoils me all the time. Today he was so wonderful, he gave me a pedicure, which I needed desparately, and I was able to go play some tennis with my team before our game tomorrow...while he took the kids. He is amazing. Every year that we are together just gets better, Mark has made all my dreams come true. I can't wait for the next 4 years, I feel so blessed to have Mark in my life and I couldn't imagine life any better. He treats me with so much respect and love and is continually a good example to me. Love you babe!!

BIRTHDAY FUN ALL DAY LONG!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYANNA!!!

It is Bryanna's 3rd Birthday today...oh my gosh! I have been so immensely blessed since Bryanna has come into our family. She has taught me many things, and I would be missing out on life BIG TIME just thinking of not having her in my life right now. She inspires me to push myself into becoming a better person, and believe me, no one is more grateful than I. Bryanna is so full of life...well let me just list her wonderful qualities!

She brings an enthusiastic energy into our home, a sweet disposition and is ALWAYS ready to have some fun. That girl can make anyone want to get up and dance when she is dancing. She has the most contagious laugh and smile, its hard to keep a straight face when she has done something naughty, for she forgives quickly...and says sorry as soon as she is put in the corner...one pretty clever little girl who knows how to work one over her mommy:)

A short and funny story on this sweetheart: She thinks her parents can do ANYTHING!! Let me explain: Wednesday, my trusty old laptop, that got me AND Mark our college degrees (meaning there were many papers and much study time done on this lovely eletronic device), sadly, DIED...yes, it just wouldn't turn back on for me, BOO HOO!! I saw this coming though. One of the buttons on the key board came off a couple of months ago and then it just slowly gave out on me...bummer! Anyway, we got a new:-) laptop that night, and as I have been using it and loving it too...Bryanna sees the old one sitting out, collecting dust, as we still keep it around until I can get all of my pictures off of it, and she has repeated several times to me...

BRYANNA: "Mommy, your computer is broken?"

MOMMY: "Yes, it won't turn on anymore."
BRYANNA: "Oh, that's OK. Daddy's a doctor, he will FIX it!"

I think Mark especially LOVES to hear her say that, and it's so funny to us that she thinks Daddy is a doctor, Ha Ha! Along with our sweet 3 year old's preception of the world comes an expectation that maybe I don't feel so worthy to be apart of. I will never be a perfect mother, but I know there are a million and one ways to be a good one! I feel it is a great responsibilty to give her the tools in life that will help her be successful in all areas including the gospel.

I am so grateful that the Lord has trusted me with her in this life, to teach her His gospel, to live a life following in the footsteps of the Savior's (heaven knows she is always doing as I do, and not as I say:), and to help mold and shape her testimony. I feel a deep sense of love from my Heavenly Father, blessing me with His most innocent and noble spirits, trusting me to teach them to stand up for what is right, and to be a beacon of light when there is Satan running rampant out there, confusing many people into thinking what is right is really wrong.

She is such a leader already in her short 3 years of life, I know she will be a great influence on anyone she befriends. I love this sweet little angel...HAPPY BIRTHDAY BANANA!!

Cannot wait for this one!

Coming out August 2, 2008...Breaking dawn...a long awaited sequel!! I think I need to get a babysitter that day, because I will be reading this book, and neglecting my kids just isn't an option...ha ha! You all know how it goes once you pick up a Stephanie Meyer book, you can't put it down...seriously! Mark isn't too excited about it (I'd rather read in bed:) The only bad thing about finishing her books so fast is you have to wait so long for the next one to come out, she leaves you wanting more, and the suspense is a killer!!

This is the last and final of the four books of the Twilight series. It will wrap up the love story that has been painted so well through novels...and I really can't wait to find out how it ends...

A little more FYI, I wasn't an English or a History major in college, because most of the time, I'd rather have been doing something else than having to read through my college days. BUT, I do enjoy a good book, and I definitely will make time to read if it keeps my interest...so coming from a person who doesn't have pages and pages of good books to recommend to everybody, the Twilight series is one to read!! She is coming out with another type of Sci-fi books, hopefully it turns into another set of series to read, its called The Host, and you can read about that one in the post below.

To order your copy and find out more about Breaking Dawn, click here!

The Host

Stephanie Meyer, one of my favorite authors these days, is coming out with a new book May 6, 2008!! For any of you who read the Twilight series, this is right up your alley! I think she is such a wonderful writer, she reels you so well its hard to put her books down. This is a Sci-fi book...and FYI, I'm NOT a sci-fi person, never have been until I read Twilight...so this may tell you something about her talent...she is amazing and captures your attention immediately! So to learn more about this book, click here. I can't get enough of her books, I wish she had more coming out...oh wait...she does!!!

Fun win over Spanish Trail!

We had so much fun playing today! Even if we lose, its still such a great time, but today we won 3 of our 4 matches against Spanish Trail! Carroll brought her camera today and snapped some pictures of us all. It's much different seeing myself playing tennis in pictures, I'm more used to seeing the kids around or Mark in photos with me. It's great to have something more than my explanations to Mark of how the matches go every Wednesday, now there's proof I'm running around out there, occasionally pulling muscles and getting some blisters!! (It's all worth it though).
I am grateful for my hobbies, and when I get to do them, it fills my canister. I'm definitely a much happier wife and mommy! And not to mention the girls night out is another great way to get some me time!! I never understood when my mom wanted to do things with out us kids (it didn't make me feel unloved, I just didn't know why) until I had my own babies. And thanks to Mark for supporting my fun hobbies...now thinking about it, he's long overdue for some time on the golf course. Your turn honey!!

My new favorite thing...

I think this is the best thing created since sliced bread! This is the most yummy treat on Wonder Whole Grain White bread (which is also a favorite thing) toasted...and the best part is: its guilt free! I married a guy who LOVES butter. Growing up on margarine, I adapted to my husbands' tastes, and so my waist line has paid for my indulgence in the real thing a little too often! I don't know why I didn't get hooked on I Can't Believe It's Not Butter earlier, but now I don't feel so bad about eating a piece of toast with some jam every once in a while. Cutting out bread in my diet would be super hard, isn't that what baby steps are for:) ?

Here's the facts of eating guilt free:

Great for topping and cooking, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® Spray is the perfect choice for fresh veggies and grilled chicken. Fresh butter taste at your fingertips with zero fat and calories and no Trans Fat per serving*

Nutrition Facts for Original Spray

Serving Size: 1.25 Sprays(0.25g) For Cooking Spray, 5 Sprays(1g) For Topping Spray. Servings Per Container: 904 For Cooking Spray, 226 For Topping Spray. Calories 0 Calories From Fat: 0 Amount Per Serving % Daily Value*** Total Fat: 0g 0% Saturated Fat: 0g 0% Cholesterol: 0mg 0% Sodium: 0mg** 0% Total Carbohydrate: 0g 0% Protein: 0g Trans Fat: 0g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g Monounsaturated Fat: 0g Vitamin A: 0%

There are so many alternatives for eating better, I just realize my options when my mind is set on eating healthier. To check out more healthy recipes using this wonderful product click here. They also have sticks to cook or bake with, which I think is a good option instead of always using butter, which I have in the past, and sometimes still do. This is my new favorite thing!

Developing artist...

Bryanna is getting more into doodling and using her imagination! I love to see her wrapped up in something other than the TV. I was packing some more (what's new??) this morning and she was such a good little helper. I thought it would be more of a burden, but it actually has been wonderful. I feel liberated with all the 'de-junking' going on in the last few weeks! Mark and I keep saying to each other, "Why don't we do this for reasons other than moving?" My house feels SO CLEAN, although it may not always appear that way if anyone dropped by, but I'm getting to the point of finding things I was looking for a while ago!! Isn't that so funny? Mark needed the 3-hole punch probably two months ago or so, and guess what, I found it today!! Ha Ha, two months too late:) Well, at least he didn't go off and buy another one. Better late than never!

As Bryanna was scribbling away, she was pretending to write her name and was repeating it aloud along with some other friends she plays with often. So this was worthy of a Kodak moment. You can kind of make out where she was "writing" a name. I thought it was just so great!

Nana's White Chili

K, so for all of you who have partaken of this yummy chili at various ward functions or eat-overs at our house, this is EFY! And those of you who have never eaten this...make it, it will be a staple in your recipe collection for good eats!

Just a little background on the recipe, this is my mom's mother's recipe, whom us grandkids call Nana. She was the best cook back in the day when she was always hosting family over for Sunday dinners and holidays. Now my mom has taken on that roll of hostess with the mostess! So here's to you, Nana!! But now thinking about it, I actually got this recipe from my older sister Jennifer...so to both of you...Love you and all your good cookin'!

Nana's White Chili

~Saute in 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons in EVOO for 20 minutes on medium-low heat in a big soup pot:
~1-2 sweet onions, finely chopped
~1-2 cloves of garlic, minced

Then add:
~1 extra large can of Swanson's Chicken Broth...that brand tastes the best!
~1 whole chicken, cooked and then shredded along the grain
~2-15 oz. cans white beans, rinsed and drained
~1-2 small cans of diced green chilis
~1-2 cans of sliced olives
~2-9 0z. pkgs. of fresh frozen sweet white petite corn, add just before serving soup
~1 tsp. lemon pepper
~1 tsp. ground cumin
~1/2 tsp. dried oregano
~1/2 tsp. dried cilantro
~2-3 Tbsp. lime juice

Cook until hot and bubbly on medium heat. Best reheated. Last up to 2 weeks in the fridge or can also freeze for a later dinner. I usually serve with tortilla chips, Mark loves to dip them in the soup.

**This is VERY good for dieting...the only fat really is the butter and oil, so eat up!!!

I just made this one on Friday and had leftovers today. I realize it's more of a winter food when the weather is cold and you need something tasty that warms you up, but we aren't to the hot summer yet, so I think it would still be a good one for dinner. Enjoy;)

Our Close Date...

is Friday, April 18th!! We are very excited to get things going. I have the house half-way packed and it seems like half-way isn't very far. But I still have a week and a half to get more organized and set for the big move. I'm just glad its not a cross country move...just across the railroad tracks:) I feel bad that the timing isn't a little better, Bryanna's birthday is April 19th and that's when we are planning on moving everything...oh well! We will celebrate on a different day for her, thank goodness she isn't old enough to think we are neglecting her big day!! If it were up to me, we'd have moved yesterday, ha ha!! Then I'd be nursing my back ache already instead of cringing at the thought of doing all that lifting:( And a plus is that its in plenty of time before our new renters move into the house we are in now, so I can take a little longer to really get the house situated for them, having it get the white glove inspection will take all the time I can get:)

Like I said before, we are excited for the change, but sad to not be in the same ward as our fantastic friends we've made! Mark and I have really had some fun times with a lot of the couples in our ward...lots of fun date nights never to be forgotten (and you know one of them I'm talking about Kim!!:) So we will miss all our friends so much!

Hopefully we can squeeze in some more fun times before we head out of here, and we look forward to seeing all of you despite relocating!!

Face Lift!

Don't you love the face lift? Thanks so much to Melinda for her creativity and talent! Check out Melinda and Heather's new business, Blogger Couture, here. I love it!! Thank you for the new look, it's super cute!!!

Bryanna and her funnies!

This afternoon while playing in the backyard with Mark and Maddox, Bryanna fell down and skinned her hand. She was crying and Mark asked her what happened. She said, "I hurt my hand and I have to go to the Doctor!" Pretty clever for a two year old! We are still snickering over that one.

Moving Sale

Just wanted to inform you all that we are having a moving sale this Saturday at our house starting around 7 am. We are selling a treadmill (a super nice one!), a desk, a couch, some dishes, clothes, toys, some scrapbooking supplies and lots of other miscellaneous things.

Also, if there is something you need to get rid of and want to sell it on Saturday, you are more than welcome. Just drop off your stuff first thing in the morning and if it doesn't sell, pick it up that afternoon! Everything we don't sell we are giving to DI, so this is just a way to make our DI load a little lighter. Pass the word if you are interested and hopefully we'll see you there:)

Chicken & Broccoli Rice Casserole

This recipe is delicious and I cook it at least once a month for Mark. It is my dad's mother's recipe, whom we affectionately called, "Mrs. Ann" and to this day, I still don't know why we called her that, but we did! She passed away when I was 3 years old, so its nice to get to know her through some of her recipes. My dad has an amazing palate, and I'd like to think she had a little part in his expertise and his delicious combinations he throws together. I'm aspiring to be like the great chefs in my family, one day I'll get there!

Chicken & Broccoli Rice Casserole

-1 whole chicken (you know, the roasted chickens that are already cooked at Sam's...the best!)
-two 10 oz. pkgs of broccoli
-3 cups cooked rice
-1/2 cup mayo (I use lite, who needs all those calories??)
-2 Tbsp lemon juice
-1 teaspoon curry powder
-1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
-1 can cream of mushroom soup (again, I use the 94% fat free)
-1 can cream of chicken soup (94% fat free)

Steam the broccoli to where it's still a little crisp, it will get a little more tender in the oven. Shred the chicken off the bone, and combine all the ingredients together, except 1/2 cup cheese. Put into a casserole dish then sprinkle the top with remaining cheese. Bake at 375 degrees uncovered for 30 minutes.

This is super delicious and can be figure friendly if you use the lite calorie ingredients. I'm always up for a scrumptious recipe that is easy and doesn't have too many steps involved and this is one of them.

**Cook's note: Because we don't have a super huge family with lots of hungry kids (yet!), I divide the ingredients among two smaller casserole dishes, bake them the same amount of time, and eat one for dinner, and freeze the other for a different night. It takes the work out of it for the next time we want something yummy and if I've had a really busy day with no time for cooking this saves time! I put the frozen one right in a preheated oven for 30 minutes on 350, and poof...its done! That's what I did yesterday, and I felt so great because I was feeding my family something that was home made, without all the work!!

Happy cooking & enjoy:)

American Idol!

So, now it's Tuesday, which means all the contestants for American Idol get to perform tonight!! When it first came out, (like in 2003?) I was so busy working and going to school, that I had no idea what it was until a girl at work gave me an extra ticket to come see the contestants perform at the MGM right after Kelly Clarkson won. I said, "Sure, why not?" But I really had no clue how big the show was and that a few years later it would be one of my favorite guilty pleasures!


This season, I have a couple of favorite idols. Brooke White, as you all know is LDS, and it is so great to see a Molly Mormon in the public eye! I love how she is so modest every week, and she exudes joy and happiness in her persona. She seems so perfect for the spotlight, hopefully she will stick to her roots, and keep strong in the gospel. I would LOVE to see her in the top 5 as well. Too bad I'm too tired to stay up and vote for her! Even if I do stay up until its over, the phone lines are so dang busy I can't ever get through.

One of my other favorite idols is David Archuletta...from Murray, Utah. I'm not sure if he is LDS too, but I'm assuming he is...correct me if I'm wrong. He has the same spirit about him that Brooke does, genuine and sweet. I admire the contestants for going through the ring of judgment fire each week, with a talent that big, it would be hard to hear so much criticism! But, isn't that the most interesting part? Mark and I love to hear the judge's remarks, because most of the time, Simon is so right on!!! Paula gives most of her comments with some padding, and Randy has a smooth way of calling girls 'man' and the guys 'dog'. SO funny!