Lilo Get's Braces!

It went well, she was excited to be there. She chose neon green bands but they are actually real cute since she has green eyes. She says she is not sore yet and it's about 4pm. We'll see how it feels tomorrow.

The second picture she was coming out of a cross eye face:*

Menu Monday: 87 Cents A Pound!!!

I have a lot of chicken at my house this week. If you did not get yours, run to Albertson's today because it's the last day for the sale (they also have a deal where you can get Quaker cereal and granola bars for a buck a box if you buy 5 which is no sweat at our house). It's with the skin and bone but I just cut the breast meat out and boil the bones for soup.
(PLEASE NOTE: If you commonly read in google reader, it will not show changes made to a post by the administrator. Many times I come back and add or fix things on here so you may want to click to the actual blog. I'm bad at that)
So, my brain has been on chicken.


I have two dishes to share with you today. A while back we had the one pictured below. It was easy and refreshingly different than our normal fare.

Italian Chicken Cacciatore

3 Chicken boneless, skinless breasts cut in half lengthwise to thin (or beat the tar out of a whole one if you like)

1 can Italian stewed tomatoes (or regular and add your teaspoon of Italian seasoning and some garlic powder which I'd add anyway)

1 pkg sliced mushrooms (Italian ones are better)

1/2 cup halved kamalata olives

1/2 white or red onion sliced

2 cloves garlic crushed or chopped

2 Tbs. Capers (optional)

2 Tbs. or a big splash of cooking Sherry or a dry white wine

salt and pepper to taste

Fresh parsley to top

EVOO

In a nonstick pan coat with EVOO for one min and put in chicken. Cook about 5 minutes on each side or longer depending on thickness. Remove meat. Add remaining ingredients to pan except parsley and let come to a good simmer. Do not cover. (If you feel this is a little dry for your taste, add 1/2 to 1 cup chicken stock but you will really want to simmer it down or you will have soup) Simmer on low until veggies are tender. Season to taste. Return meat to mixture to rewarm.

Serve over brown or white rice or even a favorite pasta. Top with fresh parsley.

This week we will be doing this recipe however which I don't have a picture for. It is way too easy and gets way too much undeserving praise at the dinner table. You just need to pick up one of these at your Costco or a smaller version at your supermarket. McCormick's Grill Mates: Montreal Chicken.

Again, I take about 3 Chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)and half them lengthwise (this just discourages waste in our family and helps us milk out our meat into more appropriate portions...it also allows more flavor with a thinner meat).

I just dust them top and bottom with this puppy right here above. I put them in my cast iron skillet with olive oil on the bottom of the pan. Roast them at 400* for about a half an hour turning them once.

I serve this simply with roasted red potatoes (cut in wedges, add onion and red pepper if I have it) that cook right in there with the meat, and cool tossed salad.

The seasoning and the roasting make for a tender, flavored and juicy chicken dish, and it's so simple.

Oh, and don't forget to make a great pot of sun tea!

It's My Blog, I Can Rewind If I WANT TO! :)

It's Sunday and usually I don't blog on Sunday but I'm having to rest a lot with this cold so I decided to come by and get to some of the stuff I did not get to this week.

On Whatever Wednesday I thought about doing this blog post:

"Amazing Truth Hidden In Bones"

(Brennan.........................................................Booth)

Rick and I have been watching Bones on Netflix watch now. We are at the end of season 1. In episode 9 entitled "The Man In the Fall Out Shelter" there is a release of valley fever in the facility. The place is locked down and they are given an injection to immunize against the sickness. Booth, the (ever so subtle) faith character (also an FBI cop) is discussing with Dr.Brennan, the science character (who studies bones) about "the man upstairs". Well, here is the dialog (they are discussing Christmas):


Booth: "Christmas is the perfect time to re-examine your standing with...you know ( looks up and points to the ceiling)....


Brennan: "the helicopter pad?"


Booth: (closing his eyes and shaking his head) oh, right, right... you can't measure the man upstairs in the beaker so he can't possibly exist.


Brennan: "the man upstairs.."


Booth: (leaning in and pointing his finger in her face) hmmm, you know, you don't know your sick but you're more than willing to take drugs just in case. Seems to me you should give the man upstairs the same benefit of the doubt that you do an invisible fungus."



You know, every now and then, it's good to hear a real good truth analogy from television. I thought that was pretty good.



I told in my last post what I was most thankful for and would have posted about on Thankful Thursday (see previous post)



I'm a Fan Friday was going to be....

• I'm a fan on of whole Greek Yogurt. We use it now instead of sour cream. It is great on Mexican food, in making dressings, and in coffee cakes. It's healthier and has pro-biotics that sour cream does not have. Trader Joe's has a great one.


• I'm a fan of Armstrong flooring adds. I don't know why but I just think they are so cool. It may be because I love retro stuff but I also I think they do a great job on realistic renditions of the original people. If you don't know what these are, they are adds that depict a scene with a look-a-like famous person. Their slogan is "it only looks like the real thing". I've always found clever advertising interesting (and dumb advertising annoying). The one of Hepburn was the first one I saw and I did not realize what it was but I was amazed how much that lady in the add looked like Katherine Hepburn! Then I got it....duh.
• I'm a fan of this ADORABLE YOUTUBE that a family member on my facebook posted. It is hilarious. It's called "Proof Women Are Born This Way."

Hope that gives you a good laugh to set your week off with a giggle!

Saturday Scraps: Catching Up

The last few Saturday's I've wanted to share pictures of the kids. If you are on my facebook you have seen some of them, but not all. I'm just going to post some highlights to catch up. Blogger tends to load pictures in reverse order so these are so not in sequence but I don't have the time to fix them.
This picture is actually from quarter 2 in Princess 6th grade year. I post it because I don't think I have yet, AND I don't have one of the ceremony yesterday when she got honor roll again. We are very blessed by her perseverance in her studies. In this area she is completely self motivated. I all ready knew that but I was still shocked when this quarter she told me her lowest grade was an A. I literally laughed and said "what was your highest then?" All other grades in all other subjects are A+'s. She is the only 4.0 student in her class and it's all on her own initiative. I don't know how she does it. I would have have died for those grades in 6th grade. To actually bring her grades up through the year as the material got harder, is just amazing.
One of Superkid's goofie pose for daddy pictures. He was using his camo Scooby Doo PJ's as an army costume.
With our former neighbor boy and fellow classmate up at the school. Who knew Spidie was a cowboy at heart?
Yesterday I had to comb through Superkids room. 80% of these rocks I found on his desk topped with the shocking chunks of asphalt I found the other day. As I said on my facebook presentation of this picture, this is the nature bucket now (no live creatures allowed).
Lilo is in the school GATE program and just before spring break they put on some skits for the kids of the school. Each skit was a fable with a moral to the story. Lilo was in two for the skits and was the announcer for one.

In this skit she was a pelican having tea with a friend.


Easter Sunday at church. Superkid and Lilo up front singing with their class.
They were a little nervous to be upfront:)
Superkid was to read a verse but his teacher is expressing surprise that he had it memorized. At the second service, he actually read it off the card. The first time around I think he was just happy to get through his first experience speaking in front of so many people.
Easter baskets before church. This year I went to the dollar tree and got something that could be used for something all year long instead of the traditional Easter basket.
My favorite Superkid pic of the season.
My favorite pic of the girls...their faces are so funny.
We used some vinegar this year and it really did make them brighter.

When you choose to do eggs at 9pm, you get crazy excitement and tiredness all together at one table.
Okay, now we are really looking at them backwards. The follow pics are our hike out at Salmon Creek falls. This was during spring break as well. We had a wonderful day out.






the goofieness never ends....







Quick heath update:
Thank you so much for those of you who have prayed for us! As of Monday the 19th, I will have been symptom free from the hormone problems! I'm trying not to get to excited yet but it does seem that the doctors advice of the estrogen is finally kicking in enough and my body is balancing out. The few days I started to feel better I really noticed a difference and felt like a different person I had not been for almost two months. I pray it does not come back again but I'm trying to be patient that it may. I've taken some steps to be healthier that I think are helping too. My other prayer is to be free of the patch once I check in with the OB on May 13th.

Lilo is about to take a new adventure though! She is getting braces for her cross bite! She is excited about getting them but does not really understand the hard work at maintaining and the serious lack of candy and gum this will mean (she is our major sweet tooth child). We are all going to support her by not having these things either and the kids will have to turn in their Awana and other candy for family ice cream now and then. She has to have her two baby eye teeth pulled on April 28th so if you think of it, please pray for her that day. She is very scared of getting this done. She has had a molar pulled and I think the memories from that are not good. It was such a blessing how this came about though! If I had been able to do a Thankful Thursday post, it would be about this. Rick took out a special payment plan through his work that allows us to pay monthly for this work to be done for Lilo, tax free. We too the plan out on the advice the Dr. gave us two years ago that we would need to do this work at 8 or 9 years of age. Rick had a deadline to sign up for it so he signed up before we did the consultation. The receptionist quoted him $4900 dollars. We did not realize that once you put this amount in, you cannot change it. You will be obligated to pay that money within a year whether you use it or not. It can only be used on medical or dental bills. It's been pulling $180 from each paycheck since Feb. I believe. Well, we had her checked to get going on this and the Dr. said we needed to preferably wait another year, and that it was best not to start now. Rick and I were beyond stressed. He did all he could to change the plan, back out of it, or anything. Nope, they don't let you change it or back out of it unless your child dies. We HAD to start, even if that meant that in a year it would have been discovered that all of this work was unnecessary and her mouth would have adjusted on it's own, or at least to have not needed so much bracing. We had to step out in faith to start and hope that God knew why this was happening this way, but we were sick about it.
This last week, I went in and the Dr. had just gotten Lilo's x-rays of her full mouth. A panorama view. He said to me "it's so good that we are starting because we would not have seen this". Her permanent eye teeth are fully rooted and cannot fit to come in. Her baby ones are not budging and the new teeth are about to try coming in on her upper pallet behind her current teeth. Had we waited a year, they would have come in, and we would have had to spend much more money getting them anchored and pulled forward. He said it sometimes even requires oral surgery. GOD, YOU ARE SO GOOD TO STRESS US OUT SOMETIMES! THANK YOU THAT YOU SEE! Now, because we were forced to start, she will get the baby teeth pulled so these puppies can come right in where they aught to.
So, on the 20th of April she get's her braces on, and on the 28th she get's her baby teeth pulled. So, she is going to be pretty sore. I'm having more of a problem that she won't look the same for a few years! She will have to wear a retainer for a long time after all this and even when it's done she may need work through her teens since there is so much adjusting to do and her mouth is not done changing anyway with her growth. There is another 10 or 12 year mouler that is all ready turned the wrong way and he says will have to be helped along. She did not get the blessing of a good set of teeth but I'm thankful we have a way to take care of this so she does not have problems in her adult years. Rick really needs to get work done that we really cannot afford now because he never had two permanant teeth that never came in the middle of his lower mouth. Because of this huge gap, his lower teeth are moving back and caving in. He almost looks like he has a front tooth missing by now. I worry about what it will mean as he get's older. So, maybe after we get Lilo squared away, we can start on his. There will be no fancy cars or anything like that in our near future! When they say that kids are expensive, this is what they mean. It's worth it though for her not to have problems later on. Her cross bite would mean that one whole side of her teeth will wear completley down and the other would be fine. It would eventually effect her eating.
We will try to get a picture of her before and after. Now days I hear they get to pick their band colors. If Lilo can do a rainbow, I bet she will try.:)

Tackle It Tuesday Tunes

I said two weeks ago that I had some fitness goals. I've done fairly well keeping them. I said I wanted to walk more though and that has not gone well. I did however loose 1.4 lbs at this last TOPS meeting. I'm really desiring to stay focused so reporting here will help. Let me know you're watching cause I need that annoyance too!:)
We talked at our last meeting (TOPS) about motivation. I really liked the inspirational thing the lady speaking said. Motivation is like taking a bath, just because you get it once doesn't mean you don't need to find it again (or something like that). So, I've been thinking of what motivates me.
Music really motivates me, and I enjoy a lot of different kinds. Lately though, I've really been needing spiritual encouragement more so I find that I can't consume a lot of "candy" music (I say this because many of our worldly hobbies, interests, enjoyments are like candy, you are free to partake but make too much will effect your spiritual health).
So, I spent an hour making a new play list. Of course I'm sharing in case any of you also have a long 20 foot headphone extension cord like I do and pipe it into you most booming of boomers. If you don't, get one at Radio shack. It's worth it (try Pandora.com too!). You can also just pipe the computer sound into your headphones for workouts. I don't have an ipod like some people ....;)
Here it is...go tackle something and be refreshed as well. These are some of my tippity top favorites!

I'm A Fan Friday!

I've missed this theme, though it's quite temporal:). One of the best things about being somebody is that you have your own likes. If someone else enjoys them too, great, if not, you are still sharing part of yourself.

• I'm a fan of this guy on YouTube. He was linked on one of the theories at the LOST ABC theory site that I read a lot of when I was resting to recover from surgery (any other time I'd not have had the time to be that into it). He gives a weekly run down of the last episode of LOST and he's just well.....darn entertaining. I think he does a new one every Friday. Here is his latest. Of course, this means nothing to non-losties. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URrPwy5C8SY (if you enjoy his stuff, go back and catch up on some of the others).
• I'm a fan of this Trader Joe's cooking site I mentioned yesterday and look forward to looking at it more.
• I'm a fan of the local libraries for having Wii games now....that is so cool of them.
• I was (thank goodness it's passed tense!) a fan of Whoppers Robin Egg candies....they are gone now, and it's a very good thing!
• I'm a fan of this song from New Moon. You know how every now and then there is a song you just could listen to over and over, well right now this is it. So not spiritual, but such a great beat. (btw to read my soap box on Twilight go here)

• I'm a fan of "Food Inc" which you can watch on Netflix watch now. I've been thinking a lot about these issues anyway with my hormone challenges but this stuff is enlightening. I know we really have to do the best we can with what God gives us when it comes to food, and really we don't all have the budget to be really truly healthy eaters, but man this movie makes you want to shoot for something better. Go to the link to watch the trailer.

What are you a fan of this week?

Thankful Thursday + Help Me Out Here!

I've not done one in a while so I think it's time!

• I'm thankful Rick and I have made it 13 years together, and I'm thankful for him. We had a nice evening out to celebrate. I'm thankful for my friend Trish watching the kids so we could get out.
• I'm thankful my hormone symptoms are dissipating. They are not going away completely but when they come, they are not as severe as they were closer to post surgery. I am praying this means my body is slowly getting back on track. Easter Sunday was difficult and I began to have heart flutters during church so I had to go out for most of the sermon, but it's still not as bad as it has been. I mostly went out from fear of not knowing if it's going to get worse. That really is the problem right now, being that when the symptoms hit, even though they are not as bad, I have to really fight off fear of them getting worse like they have before. My prayer is that I would learn what God has for me through all of it.
• I'm thankful the kids have been home the past two weeks. Though the house is a bit more messy, we have had some fun times. I'm thankful we got to go hiking to a beautiful waterfall together and just be home together.
• I'm thankful I got to spend one of those days shopping with Princess all day. I was really not sure how it would go. Some days with tweens are just tough and I was not sure the clothing choices would go well if we disagreed. We ended up having a lovely day out together and even a little Carl's Jr. lunch. Though we were tired as could be, it was good day.
• I'm thankful for sunshine again. I know it will be triple digits before too long so I'm really trying to soak in the beauty of the warm days.

That's what is coming to mind for today.

Help me out!

I am doing somewhat of an experiment for our family. I'm having to really try to eat better with these new health issues so I've decided to try to pretty much eat from Trader Joe's. There are some things I just cannot afford there but I'm also trying to milk out the budget with legumes instead of meat all the time. They have grass fed beef there we are slowly trying but it's SO expensive! We are trying to eliminate extra hormones that may be seeping into our diet from meat and dairy.

So, I've been checking out the Trader Joe's site as well as the Cooking With Trader Joe's site but I was wondering if any of you had a few or even one good recipe that is composed of TJ's stuff.

Mawage Is Wat Bwings Us Tugetha Tuday

The perfect marriage is the perfect joke. It does not exist. The sooner one settles that the better. There are things I would love to get the opportunity to do different, better, or without. But if someone told you, that without those problems, you would not be the people you are together today, would you trade it? No, I wouldn't. Here is the beauty of God's work in a marriage. The rest of the world has to face the challenge (and it's there, in every couple) without the hope of beauty from ashes. We get to see God work for our benefit through our failings. Holding on to us long and steady, holding us together when perhaps our own emotional hands have let go and given up, we are carried to a new place. Each place has a vista, a vantage point, a room with a view. This place is a chance to look back and see the dark blend with the brilliant and become beautiful. It's inspiration to go on, but not only inspiration, it's expectant excitement. If he can do this, what more can he do?! The day to day humdrum threatens to overshadow the excitement but these vista's are important to remember the daily is only one part of the bigger picture. Left to ourselves, we would seek our own and be fatally disappointed with each other that the other is not seeking our own the way we would like. With Him we begin to understand the deeper joy of seeking the delight of sacrifice. Christ is like the Phoenix for the marriage, he makes it raise up and soar when you thought it was done forever. Do you believe in magic? The magic of infatuation seems pale in comparison to this magic. It brings to life again and again, through grace, the "had enough" human reaction. It pushes us beyond ourselves to find there is more beauty to be had. It shows us that our needs are met fully in Him so that we can only give to each other. We bring nothing to this table of marriage except our problems but he prepares a banquet for us through is Son, to partake and enjoy in purity and commitment. HE allows us to see that Love is not what we thought it was. It is not what comes naturally (and what does should not be called love, for love never dies) but supernaturally. It is the eyes that let us love as we have been loved, knowing full well we will never measure up but we are chosen for each other so our measurements are insufficient. When we fill we are not a fit, he reminds us that he says we are so there is a way through. On the other side, again, the vista, we look back and are overwhelmed.

So, all joking aside, marriage is what brings us together today as it did this day 13 years ago. Because marriage is a reflection of Christ and his church and what he holds will never be let go of. Emotions falter, sometimes even to the darkest of degrees, but Love is what we have been given to have for each other from a source outside of ourselves. I know that when we come to him, he is an endless source to carry on. How delighted I am to carry on with you! I look forward to the future, and I hope it's long, but either way I know it will be fulfilling. Imagine the vista way down the road. That is a treasure we share together that no one else on earth can see. It's between you, me and Him and I will never trade it for anything else.

Today is the day we celebrate the vista, the beautiful view, that is this journey thus far. Happy Anniversary to my deepest friend, my constant, and my journeyman.