Yummy

I have been really good at keeping a weekly meal plan for the past 2 months. It has saved us lots of money because we don't eat out as much. I only buy what is for the recipes and lunches, therefore I'm not buying extra stuff. I also bake a lot more so that we don't buy lots of snack foods. When I plan my meals I like to try at least 2 new recipes a week. I came upon the following 2 recipes 2 weeks ago. I love them!

Pasta e Fagioli
Prep: 10 min, Cook: 30 min.
3/4 tsp. olive oil
2/3 cup recipe-ready crushed tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. rosemary, crumbled
2-2/3 cups vegetable or chicken stock

1-1/4 lbs. canned white kidney beans, (cannelini) rinsed and drained
3 ounces rotini pasta, or fusilli
1/2 lb. zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. grated Parmesan cheese
Heat oil in a heavy nonreactive saucepan over medium heat. Add next 3 ingredients. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 2 cups of the stock. Combine remaining stock with 2/3 cup kidney beans in a blender. Purée. Transfer to tomato mixture. Add remaining kidney beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Add pasta and zucchini. Cook 10-12 minutes or until pasta is al dente. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with Parmesan and a crusty italian bread.

I have never loved homemade pizza like the ones from Dominos or Pizza Hut. Because of the crust, right!? After finding the following recipe I have changed my mind. Even our snobby 9 year old likes it!

Pizza Crust

1 package dry yeast (1 tbsp)

1/4 tsp sugar

3/4 cup luke warm water

1 and 3/4 cup unbleached four

1/2 tsp salt

I mix the yeast, water and sugar together and let it sit for about 8 minutes. Then I add the rest of the ingredients and mix. Roll it and stretch it out.

Add your toppings then cook for 8-12 minutes in a 500 degree oven.

Enjoy.................next time I make my pizza, I'll take a picture and post it.

Back to Life

School has started and so have schedules. While I like summer and all of its activities, I find it much easier to adhere to a schedule when school starts. It has been a very nice transition. I truly enjoy time at home with Little E. She was looking all over the house for the boys on their first day of school. So priceless when they arrive home and she notices them for the first time.

With the boys starting school I have begun new projects around the home. If anyone knows me at all they know that I get bored quickly and like to change things up. So I already look at my living room and the rest of my house, for that matter, and want to restyle it all. Problem is, I don't have nearly the finances to do this every year, as I'd like to and I don't know what my style is (pulling out my hair).

I also have a huge problem envisioning things. I came along a blog where the gal takes pictures of the room and restyles it in photoshop. So here I go....I hope this will work. If any of you have some good ideas, plllllllleeeeeeease send them my way. I don't want my home to look like everyother in UT as well.

Wish me luck!

Student of the Month

So I know that we aren't suppose to be "proud," so here is a moment Lover Boy and I are very pleased with...

Speed was chosen as Student of the Month for April. He asked his teacher what he needed to do to earn it and as a result of his hard work he got it. Woooohoooo!

Speed has come a long way and his fans couldn't happier!

What is Real

I'll thank my husband for e-mailing me this CES address by Elder David Bednar. It has been in my e-mail box for a while and today I finally listened to it. I am so glad I did. I highly recommend listening to it. I really appreciate Elder Bednar's message and delivery. I can feel the adversary working hard to distract me and I've got to work harder and employ the spirit more. Pay special attention to when he says apostolic warning. This message powerfully reminds us to discern between truth and error. He pleads for us to look to and enjoy what is real, rather than what is fabricated. I won't say any more, just listen to it!



(Just click on his picture)

Miss you

Today's post is dedicated to Papa. 3 years ago today he passed away. I remember I hadn't spoken to him since March and didn't want to since I couldn't face his suffering. Nana said he didn't ever suffer, but I still didn't know what to say or how to deal with it. The night before Nana made me talk to him over the phone and assure him that he could be at peace, that I was taken care of and he could let go. That was the hardest thing I ever had to do . I hated every minute of it and was so mad that I had to do it. Of course the next morning he died. I was getting my nails done when Nana called and left a message. I sat at the dinner table and cried, but I could feel him right there with me.
I've felt him around since then and I know he's part of a great work on the otherside. I still miss him though. I miss his rants on politics, his silly jokes, his Swiss accent, his beautiful singing voice, his love of art and classical music, his laugh, his scary driving, his half finished books on his bedside, body slamming him, watching him read his scriptures, his amazing lessons, his infinite knowledge of everything and most of all his hands. Dad had strong tender hands, I loved to hold them. I'll always think of you dad and I can't wait to see you again.

It's About Time!!!

I won't write a lot, here are some pictures of spring break in California (don't worry, all of the girls have their tops still on) and some other stuff we've been up to.

Repelling in Battlecreek Canyon

Only an 90 ft drop, yikes


2nd place!

At the beach

Hot mamas!

Lovin the sand, can you believe, Little E didn't eat it at all


Out on the Lake at my Uncle's house

Don't hate her because she's beautiful

Sunset with Speed

Trying to escape

Autism Awareness

April is Autism Awareness Month and to be honest I would not care if I wasn't personally touched by someone with Autism. When Pieter was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder I didn't know anything other than a very outdated idea on what Autism was. A majority of the world still share this view. They tend to picture a very low functioning autistic person that sits in a corner and bangs their head on the wall while rocking back and forth. So when I've mentioned Pieter falling within the spectrum people have scoffed and rolled their eyes disbelievingly. Because I have struggled with the diagnosis I have educated myself on the condition. I feel so much compassion for people who experience any version of autism, low and high functioning.
There is so much that we don't know about Autism and what was true 10 years ago has already changed. It evolves each year with new studies and new people getting involved. I don't believe that only one thing triggers autism. Genetics and environment affect each case. Likewise each case is unique. If anything I only wish for people to open their eyes and admit that they don't know and don't understand. Do some research of their own. Give others the benefit of the doubt. Show some compassion for these children. And above all, use the spirit. We are so blessed to live in a time with amazing medical advances and new information, this coupled with revelation can enlighten our minds dramatically.
Following is a link to a CNN clip with Larry King interviewing Jenny McCarthy, Jim Carrey and some medical professionals. I appreciate this interview and the views expressed. It doesn't resemble the common publicity given to autism.
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2009/04/04/lkl.jim.jenny.autism.pt1.cnn
I can't wait to have my original Pieter back. He has come a long way, but we're still on the up hill journey. I'm grateful for my experiences, I'm more understanding and less judgemental because of them. I pray that we can help others affected by autism by being kind and understanding.