Kids

Kids

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

30 before 30 update #4!

It's crunch time! Only 20 more days until the big 30! I am feeling really good about everything! Wahoo!!

1. Read the Harry Potter books. COMPLETE!
2. Start my personal history: complete my history journal. IN PROGRESS I have been diligently working away at my history journal. Before getting started, I didn't really think about how much time it would actually take! Some of the questions are hard to answer, or require long, intricate explanations. If this is not complete by my birthday, it will be done by the end of the month for sure :)
3. Complete a triathlon. UPDATE Ahh! Fort Macleod Super Sprint August 19, 2017. I still haven't registered, but I am trying to build myself up to do it!! Send me your happy triathlon vibes!
4. Take a family name to the temple. IN PROGRESS I have been working away at my family tree. Its going good, but is tricky. I am adjusting this goal for me to reach by the end of the year instead July 18. Not only do I have to gather the names and info for family history, I also have to ask permission from my family, which I have been fasting and praying about for a few years. In the due time of the Lord, He will let me know when to ask.
5. Learn how to braid my own hair. COMPLETE!
6. Significantly reduce my wardrobe. COMPLETE!
7. Take the family on a luxurious vacation. COMPLETE!
8. Try 30 new recipes. UPDATE COMPLETE I have tried
1. Gingerbread cheesecake dip. Verdict - not my fav. I don't really like the taste of molasses.
2. Baked Cranberry Brie. Verdict - this particular recipe had vanilla and brown sugar with the cranberries, so it was quite sweet. I will make it again, however without the sweetness.
3. Broccoli Chicken Divan. Verdict - yum! My mother-in-law makes this, but I had never. It was pretty yummy! This recipe has curry and i love that flavor.
4. Cripsy Tofu Tacos. A-MAZ-ING!!! Even if you don't like tofu, I bet you'll love these!
5. Rice milk. As Doug and I are switching over to organic and whole foods, I have started making my own milk. Rice milk good for cooking, but not on cereal.
6. Coconut milk. This stuff is delish!
7. Crackers. I have been making my own whole wheat crackers and I LOVE them! I season each batch differently with whatever I am in the mood food. Nutritional yeast is probably my favourite seasons.
8. Cinnamon Raisin Bread. I got a Bosch, which is a post in itself (YAY), so I have been making more breads. I make whole wheat cinnamon raisin bread with freshly ground wheat from my new grain mill (DOUBLE YAY!)
9. Crusty french bread. Ummm....my family may have embarked on a new addiction to this...
10. Thai Turkey Cakes. YUM! Ground turkey, ginger, garlic, spinach, tumeric. Holy deliciousness.
11. Granola. I have been adding candied ginger which gives it a little punch, which I love! It is also a great way to get my kiddos to eat seeds.
12. Winter Squash chowder. Super hearty, warming and filling! I add chickpeas and corn, which give it some texture. It is super yum!
13. Coconut tomato curry. LOVED IT! We made it with edamame noodles, so it was meatless. We only eat meat every other day, so its nice to have more recipes and options.
14. Black Bean burgers. Doug and I loved them, John ate about half, Robbie cried and Nola gagged. Haha!
15. Green onion pancakes. YES!!! I ate these in China and came across a recipe, so i gave it a go. So yum, so nostalgic. Doug and the kiddos loved them too!
16. Homemade goldfish crackers. Meh. They didn't taste amazing and were a super pain in the rear to make. Probably wont make them again.
17. Tofu pancakes. These are a BIG hit at our house! They are vegan protein pancakes that are delicious AND healthy! Last time I made them, Nola ate 6!
18. Gluten and dairy free cream of mushroom soup mix. Instead of using a can of mushroom soup for a cassarole I made, I tried a recipe I found in the cook book that came with my grain mill. It was super simple - fresh chicken stock, white bean flour and sauteed mushrooms. It worked and was a clean and healthy alternative (white bean flour has 22 gr of protein per 100gr!)
19. Pizza Bites. Its basically just pizza dough made into lots of tiny circles, stuffed with meats, cheese and sauces, layered in a baked dish and baked. The kiddos LOVED them!
20. Crispy Garlic Baked Tofu. Meh. The sauce for them was super yum, however baking the tofu gave them a really weird, hard yet chewy texture. Certainly haven't made them again.
21. Bruschetta. With the fresh basil in my garden, this is to die for. My mouth is water just typing this...
22. French Toast Bread Pudding. Oh. My. Word. Yup, its as good as it sounds.
23. Huevos Rancheros. YUM!
24. Curried Tomato Chutney. This was an amazing alternative to ketchup while camping. (Yup, I made it while camping. I am a cooking badass!)
25. Dutch Oven Buns. Trek prep has served me well! The dutch oven buns were super yum. That was the first time I had used white flour in a LONG time!
26. Dutch Oven Monkey Bread. Take bun dough, dip in oil, roll in cinnamon sugar, stack in dutch oven, cook, eat, fall into sugar-induced coma.
27. Chive Vinegar. So yummy, easy and resourceful! Take the flowers off your chives and soak them in vinegar for a week. It makes the most delicate salad dressing!
28. Refried Beans. I put dried black beans through my mill, heated them on the stove for 5-10 minutes, added some butter, green onions and homemade salsa and BAM! SO freaking yummy and easy!
29. Balsamic Chicken. I got the recipe from a Jessica Seinfeld cook book ( she is notorious for adding pureed veggies into her food that no one noticed). The sauce for the chicken had a whole cup of broccoli puree in it and you couldn't even tell! Super delish!
30. Broccoli Meatloaf. Again, Jessica Seinfeld. This meatloaf has 1 cup of broccoli and one cup of carrot puree inside. It was so moist and flavourful! I don't think I'll make meatloaf without the puree again.
9. Print my blog books.
10. Organize a service project. IN PROGRESS
11. Write a new piano piece. COMPLETE!
12. Write a new song. COMPLETE!
13. Host a fancy dinner party.
14. Bring my children to see live music.
15. Explore Lethbridge. IN PROGRESS
16. Take a spin class.
17. Write a letter to each of my children for them to open on their 30th birthday.
18. Climb a mountain. UPDATE July 8th, Bertha Peak. Boo-ya!
19. Wear no make up. COMPLETE!
20 Complete a pull up unassisted. ABANDONED
21. Watch my favorite movies from my youth. Wayne's world, biodome, sword in the stone, the great panda adventure, Beethoven's second, Dracula: Dead and loving it.
22. Play scatagories with Ali.
23. Grow a herb garden. COMPLETE!
24. Read a history booK. UPDATE I am reading 'Follow Me To Zion' by Andrew Olsen and Jolene Allphin. Its the stories of the pioneers from the Willie Handcart Company.
25. Face a fear: shoot a gun.
26. Write a letter to President Monson or any General Authority.
27. Continue to encourage others to share their stories. ALWAYS IN PROGRESS
28. Watch a live sports event.
29. Attend the temple 5 times IN PROGRESS
30. Play my guitar and sing for some of my friends. COMPLETE!

10/30 complete, 9/30 in progress, 4/30 have a pretty high chance of not being completed, leaving 7/10 to get started on.

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Robbie's Kindy Grad!

Robbie had his Kindy grad tonight. For preschool last year, he didn't understand what was going on, so it was amazing tonight to see him so happy and so into it! He knew the songs and sang and danced his little heart out. I will say this much, he sure is one quirky kid.

We have decided that Robbie will do another year of kindergarten and we are all very excited for that. Mrs. Fender is an amazing teacher and Robbie is pumped to have another year with her.

We love you so much Rob! You have grown up so much this school year and we are so proud of all you do!

Photobomb #2

Costco treats

River bottom adventures. We have many of these :)

Beach days!

Gardens! I planted two beds in my backyard and this year, we are co-gardening with Trevor and Jo!!

ALI IS GOING TO HAVE A BABY BROTHER!!!

The Nola's. Oh, how I love this picture :)

Me and my girl. I LOVE YOU!!!

The goggles do nothing!

I love these little cuties!