{Typical Day}

I took a few pics of the kids today, and this funny video of Ethan making Kade laugh. He is ppitting a piece of cheese onto Kade's tray and it is making Kade giggle over and over. Gross yet funny!

Here is Ethan showing his latest and greatest idea. He came up to me and said "My got an idea Mom. Why don't you move the house (playhouse) over by the trampoline and I will jump of the roof and look like a ninja turtle. It's the greatest plan ever!" All his ideas are the greatest ever according to him. So here is the pre-broken leg picture. He didn't break it this time but I am sure some injury is bound to happen because he bounces so high. Daddy thinks it's okay though, against my better judgment.

I went to share a yummy recipe I made this week. It's from the Favorites cookbook my friend Candace introduced me to, I get lots of good recipes from it and you can get it here: http://www.makeawishutah.org/giving/cookbooks.html

This is one of my favorites, it's so yummy.

BBQ Chicken Chop Salad
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts1 cup barbeque sauce
Marinate chicken in barbeque sauce, then bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Chop into pieces and refrigerate.

½ head iceberg lettuce, chopped½ head Romaine lettuce, chopped 3 to 4 Roma tomatoes, ½ cup cilantro, chopped1 (15-once) can black beans, rinsed and drained1 cup frozen sweet corn, thawed, ½ pound Monterey Jack cheese, grated, avacado, diced.

Combine chicken in a large salad bowl with salad ingredients and toss. Serve with ranch dressing, additional barbeque sauce and crispy corn tortilla chips. Be sure and use good ranch with this (made from Hidden Valley mix) and not just bottled. There's a big difference in taste.

Here's a pic before dresing is added.... Enjoy!

{The Many Faces of Ethan}

*Warning - this post contains a million pictures of Ethan*

If you have been around Ethan than you know what a ham he can be, he loves to make people laugh. Here he is being silly while my sister Brittany takes pictures of him, he's trying to make a different expression for each picture.

The nice beginning picture:

And not they get scary!

That's all for now - hope you enjoyes the show!

{Recipes}

Well as some of you know I have been taking some cooking classes taught by the husband of one of my high school friends. His name is Chef Brandon and he is SO, SO good at what he does. I have taken two classes, my last one is tommorrow night. I have learned lots, and it's making me a little more daring in my cooking. I won't post any of his recipes, since he asked that we didn't (he will be doing a cookbook in the future).

But I will post a recipe somewhat like one he made for us, with some adaptations that are super delish. I found this on a different blog and I it last night (Butternut Squash Soup with Cinnamon Whipped Cream and Butter Sugar Croutons). I am not a big squasher but this my friends is good stuff.

Enjoy!

{Week in Review}

Well folks, the Christmas tree has just been up a little while and already the bottom looks all freaky. I am having some guilty feelings when I look at it also, none of the crafty little things my kids make are displayed on it. We helped my parents put up their tree last Sunday and my mom has always had a tree with a million mismatched handmade ornaments. Very sentimental and fun to put up and remember back when. Cody especially loves it, and I agree it is not pretty but it is more sentimental and Christmasy. My tree is all fancy-smancy and not too kid-friendly. I am not the sweet, patient mom that allows her children to hang ornaments as they wished...crooked, 3 together, upside down...no I let them hang one or two through gritted teeth then send them away while I finish. Not good! I need to work on that.

A few days ago I was putting make-up on in the bathroom and Ethan came in saying "Sorry Mom." Okay Ethan, what did you do? "I broke a ball". So he leads me to the tile in the doorway by our front door, and an ornament is broken. "I was just checking to see if it was glass, sorry Mom. It is glass." He says. "Yes Ethan, they are all glass, no more checking!!" I told him. What a stinker.

On Friday Ethan and I went to have lunch with Rhett at his school. He was so, so excited and proud to have us there, he kept giving me hugs and telling me he loved me. It was making me and his teacher all teary eyed. I keep thinking I need to appreciate all these little moments because when he is older it won't be so cool to have mom sitting by him at lunch. During lunch I noticed Ethan all hunched over eating chips. Did I pack chips in his lunch? No! I realized he had snuck them from the girl sitting next to him. Little turkey! When we got home I asked him where he got the chips. "Well Mom, I waited until the girl looked the other way and then I grabbed some chips from her bag!" He proudly told me. He is a little sneak for sure, we have to keep all our food locked up out of his reach.

Friday night all three kids went for a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa Flakes!! They were so excited, but not as excited as Cody and I! Cody and I went to a surprise birthday party in Mesa with a super funny White Elephant Party. Then Saturday we went to a movie (Dan in Real Life), went to lunch, and then shopped for Christmas presents. What a fun and relaxing day! It was fun to be back with the kids tonight, even though it was just a day we missed them lots (just not Kade's scream). Well that's the latest in our little house, hope everyone is doing well.