Project Say Something...Cookin' Up Some Grub

Two weeks ago, Kim asked: What is your favorite home cooked meal/why.. and what is your favorite recipe?

I have known the answer to this since I read the question over two weeks ago. Why haven't I answered then you ask? Because I am lazy. That's why. But I have started to feel guilty getting so behind on the questions. If I'm gonna play the game, I gotta follow the rules, right?

I think I have mentioned numerous times that I don't have favorites, so I will just include ones I like a lot. Before Christian and Emma came along, every other Friday after Jessi and Taylor went to their mom's, Marcus and I would cook dinner together. We would chose a recipe we have never tried before and make it together. Sometimes it wasn't the greatest; other times we found new dishes to try again. I think I enjoyed the time together more than I enjoyed the actual food. It was fun to be in the kitchen with Marcus. Now we don't really get to do that. One of us cooks while the other chases the little ones. We have very different tastes in food, but we would both compromise and Marcus has me enjoying food I would have never tried before.

One of my favorite recipes is for Three Cheese Manicotti. I am pulling the recipe out of my butt and battling a migraine while I am typing this so I make no guarantees on how close it is to the actual recipe that is downstairs.

Boil the manicotti noodles like the package says. When they are done, drain the water and lay them on wax paper or paper towels to dry. While the noodles are drying, you can make the cheese mixture. It's one package cream cheese, about 2 cups mozzarella cheese and some chives.I don't remember how much..just make it look pretty. After that is all mixed together, you gotta stuff the noodles. Being the perfectionist that I am, this part used to suck. Then I got lazy and now it's much easier. I cut the noodles down the middle, put some cheese mixture in it and then roll them back up, putting the sliced side down. You can't even tell they were cut open and it's way easier. After they are all stuffed, cover them in spaghetti sauce..any kind that floats your boat. Then add about 1 more cup of mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes...I think. Then add Parmesan cheese over the top..again, I don't know how much, just do it. Then bake it for about another five minutes. Then Presto Chango! You have dinner. Everyone in my family will eat this, and that rarely happens. I like to make it during the day while Emma is napping, and then throw it in the fridge until I need to bake it. It's pretty easy and really yummy. I have actually been planning my menu for each week on Sunday. It saves me money when I go grocery shopping, makes dinner time easier and cuts down on trips to the corner store for things that we don't have but need for dinner that night. We have also been trying new things a lot lately. We got stuck in a rut there for awhile and we were eating the same thing over and over. Now Marcus and I are taking turns and trying new things.

All this talk of food has made me hungry now.

MIA...

I have been missing in action for over a week now. I have plenty of stuff to blog about. I am just running around like a chicken with my head cut off...have you ever seen a chicken with his head cut off? I haven't and I never want to...that's just gross. Anyway, I have two Project Say Somethings to answer, pictures of our latest FHE outing, (there's lots of cleavage in them too...don't say I didn't warn you.)my trip to Vernal by myself with the two little ones, my best friend's wedding and seeing people I haven't seen in forever, the internal struggles and arguments I have in my head of whether or not I should go to my 10, yes I said 10! year high school reunion, my five year anniversary and how great my husband is, my new hair, finding out that a good friend is pregnant and being more than slightly jealous (crazy I know) and pictures from Disneyland I still haven't posted yet. Someday I will be able to cross off the above topics, but in the mean time, I have a three year old asleep in my arms and it sucks monkey toes to be typing this way...so I am done for now....and I had to get rid of the grumpy post as my last post..it was buggin' me.

I'm Grumpy...

I'm grumpy...for no good reason. That's the worst kind of grumpy. I'm exhausted, so I'm sure that has a factor in it. But it's the kind of exhausted that makes you too tired to sleep. Sounds stupid, I know. It seems like I am more tired now that Emma is FINALLY sleeping through the night than I was when I was getting up two to three times a night. I'm grumpy, exhausted and hungry. It's 12:30 AM. I shouldn't eat anything so late..it'll go straight to my butt. And I have to be up and out the door early with the two little ones. That'll be fun. And I am watching a show on Bravo called Work Out. So now I feel fat and lazy. Great! I am grumpy, exhausted, hungry, feeling fat and lazy...and now I have to pee. Great!


See...told you I was grumpy.

I've Been Tagged...

I've been tagged by Mandy with this cute little questionnaire about me and my hubby. (Careful if you go to her link; there are some nasty toe pictures.) :) Since Marcus and I are celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary next week, this is perfect timing.



How long have you been together? We have been together 7 years, and as of next week, married 5 years.

How long did you date? 2 years.

How old is he? OLD! 36. And yes, up until I had my hair done last week, I had more gray hair then he does. He is the one who makes me go gray. I am so easy to live with and deal with, that's why he doesn't have any.

Who said ‘I love you’ first? Marcus did. No way would I put my emotions out there first.

Who is taller? Marcus

Who is smarter? I hate to admit it, but Marcus is. He has an answer and solution to everything. I do like to remind him that I graduated high school with a 3.963 GPA...which obviously means nothing now..but it helps me feel better all right!

Who does the laundry? Me. Marcus says he is afraid of ruining my clothes..I think that is just an excuse.

Who does the dishes? Me. Three loads a day. Whining and complaining the whole time. I hate doing the dishes. When I was growing up, my sister and I had to take turns emptying the dishwasher. I have hated it ever since.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? We have changed numerous times. When Emma was a newborn, I was. Now Marcus is. It just depends on the night usually. As long as I have my pillows, I'll sleep wherever.

Who pays the bills? I pay our personal bills and he pays all the businesses bills.

Who mows the lawn? Marcus usually does. Before I got pregnant, I would help. One would mow while the other would weed eat. But last summer I was pregnant and then just had a baby. You couldn't pay me enough to sit on the riding lawn mower for awhile after that. I would like to get back out there this summer and help though. I actually enjoy it. My hillbilly Vernal side shines through when I am riding the riding mower.

Who cooks dinner? Up until two weeks, the answer would have been just Marcus. Now it is both of us. I try to do it on the days when it works in Orem so he doesn't have to worry about making dinner when he gets home.

Who is more stubborn? I am. I will be the first one to admit it. I get it from my dad. I am not ashamed.

Who kissed who first? Marcus kissed me first. He couldn't resist any longer. I'm that hot...or something.

Who asked who out? He asked me out first. Then he ditched me. Some excuse about Jessi having a dentist appt and he wanted to stay with her or something. He was just chicken and had to bring his little girl in to make himself feel better. :) He eventually asked me out again after I was a little, shall we say, pushy?!

Who proposed? Marcus did. I'll have to do a post on that whole experience sometime. It was awesome!

Who is more sensitive? Marcus is, hands down. He is very in touch with his emotions. (That's my nice way of saying "sissy"! I kid!!) He still can't tell the story of us bringing Christian into our family without tearing up. It is very sweet.

He is my stud!

Project Say Something...Playing Catch Up

Last week Shane asked: In the story of your life, who plays The Hero, The Villain and The Trusty Sidekick?

I really like this question, but hate it at the same time. I wish I had some clever, witty answer...but I don't. Sometimes, I feel like I have to be careful because of people who might come across my writings. I feel like this is one of the those times; I never know who is reading. So I am going to sugar coat my answer so no one gets offended or feelings hurt for being included or not being included.
In the story of my life, I feel like everyone who has been a part of my life, at some point, has played the hero, the villain and the trusty sidekick. Depending on the experience, the people and the outcome of that particular experience, the roles change quite frequently. I can honestly say no one has claimed any one role. So I guess somehow, everyone is my hero. (Some are just stupider than others.)

I feel like saying everyone is everything is a cop-out of an answer, so as of today my hero is Marcus, my villain is Emma and my trusty sidekick is Christian. Monday night, Emma woke up at 1:30 am and wouldn't go back to sleep. She was just screaming hysterically. She has never done anything like that before. This was the worst night she has had other than the first night home from the hospital. There was nothing Marcus or I could do to get her to go back to sleep. Marcus and I took turns between 1:30 and 3:30 to try to get her to go back to sleep. She would sleep for a few minutes and give us a false sense of hope. Then she would wake up and just starting screaming again. I know some people would tell me to just let her scream, but with other people in the house, how can I do that to them? It breaks my heart as a mom to not know how to make my baby feel better when she is obviously miserable. Then at 3:30 am, Christian decided to wake up and he needed his mommy. I was coming out of the bathroom, it was completely dark and he was standing right there. It scared me to death. I went to help him get back in bed and back to sleep. After I thought he was situated, I went back to take demon baby. Marcus told me he was fine with her. Then Christian came back in and needed me again. So I go to Christian's room and the next thing I know, it is 7:15 am and Marcus is bringing me Emma who is still upset. Since 3:30 she probably only slept half an hour. Marcus stayed up with her so I could get some sleep. He did this knowing that he had to drive to Orem that morning and work and then drive home. What a stud!

Mondays are the days that Christian and Emma go to daycare; I have never been happier but felt so guilty to take Emma to daycare. I called daycare after about three hours and they said she was still being a diva baby. She wouldn't let anyone put her down, she was really fussy, and she still wouldn't sleep. So I had to stop doing my work and go get her. Even today, I don't know what was wrong with her. She is perfectly fine now and even slept through the night last night. What a diva.

Anyway, not the kind of answer I am sure that was meant, but it's my answer anyway. Marcus is my hero for being patient enough with a screaming baby and letting me get sleep.
Emma is, okay was, my villain for staying up all night screaming.
Christian is my trusty sidekick for needing me to put him back to bed so I could escape the hell that was my bedroom with a screaming baby.

This question has made me realize that I need to create a blog that no one knows who is the writer of the stuff. I worry too much about hurting people's feelings or offending someone. I would like a place where I could be completely honest and say what I want to say about anything. Why did my mom have to raise such a nice little girl?...that little girl would be me if you were wondering... :)..yes, I am nice...really.

Wow..that is a very rambley post...maybe I should go to bed.

Little Stinkers...

(yes, he is hitting her over the head with a sponge...that's my boy. She thought it was funny, so why intervene?)

Normally, that kind of stuff would cause a major mommy meltdown moment. My sister sent me a box of goodies that I haven't put away yet, so the little ones decided to have some fun while Mommy wasn't looking. Now, I said it would NORMALLY cause a meltdown, but I was right in the middle of making strawberry freezer jam, spaghetti sauce for dinner tonight, finishing up the activity for FHE and making the treat for FHE. Once I took away the make-up, I let them go nuts with the rest of the stuff. When I was done in the kitchen, Christian helped me clean up the mess, and all was well. Now, if I only had some help cleaning up the kitchen...

My Little Princess...

Everything Must Come To An End...

For the past ten months I have not been able to eat any kind of nuts. I love peanut butter! But for the sake of this beautiful little girl



I have refrained. Her pediatrician thinks she may be allergic to nuts based on her projectile vomiting after I would eat peanut butter.

HOWEVER:


this happened today. Why? Because both of our bodies have decided it's time to move on. And because of this:



Today was my last day of breastfeeding my baby. And yes, I am an emotional basket case. Ten months ago I sat in my living room crying because I didn't think I could do it and I thought about quitting. Now, ten months later, I sit in my living room crying because I don't want to stop. I'm not crying because of the 2 am feedings, or because I will miss wearing the nursing bras, or because I will miss Emma occasionally biting me. I cry because my baby no longer needs me. (I know, I know..she will always need me...blah blah blah..you know what I mean.) My baby is no longer a baby. She now waves and gives kisses and climbs the stairs and sleeps through the night and eats people food (again, you know what I mean) and she is just so stinking big. Next thing I know, she will be off to college and married. So sad. But isn't she cute?!





On a much happier note, I hope it's April forever!!!

Week In Review...

This past week included:

*Cooking...yes, me cooking..you read correctly. I cooked and everyone lived to tell about it. Monday I made Angel Hair Pasta with Garden Veggies. Tuesday was a chicken roll/wrap thing. Wednesday was Chinese Beef Broccoli and Lemon Merigan Pie. Thursday was Three Cheese Manicotti. I've had this itch to get in the kitchen and cook. It was fun and all the meals were a success. With Marcus being Elder's Quorum President now, I know he is going to be gone a lot more, and I know we need to eat more then mac and cheese and fast food.

*Cleaning. I have been trying my hardest to get my spring cleaning done and my house not looking like a war zone. I have a friend who just moved a couple of houses down the road, and she stops by once in awhile to chat. EVERY time she comes over, my kitchen is a mess, Emma looks like she hasn't had a bath in a week and Christian has no pants on. My friend never comes over when the house is clean and the kids are dressed and clean. I just read an article that was talking about keeping your house clean with a baby in it. It said to remember three words, "Lower your standards". I am trying to do this; it honestly is hard for me. I'm suppose to the be the mom who can do it all, and I feel like I am failing miserably. After I clean Emma and Christian's rooms, I don't want them in there playing. Come on, it's their stuff in their rooms. Chill out, Monica. The house was clean...until today. Looks like I know what I am doing tomorrow.

*Sleeping through the night..almost twice. Emma slept through the night TWICE! She is almost ten months old and this is the first time she has slept through the night. Last night she slept through the night, but Christian didn't. The problem I am running into though is that I don't go to bed until 1 or 2 AM. When Emma sleeps through the night, she is ready to be up by 6...I however, am not. So now I need to go to bed early and things will be good.

*Taking the kids to a playgroup we joined. Christian, Emma and I went to The Treehouse with a playgroup I signed us up for. It was exhausting. Christian had a blast though. Emma didn't get much time to play; Christian went to one area after another so quickly that Emma didn't get to be put down much. I met a couple of the moms in the group and I am excited to do more activities with them. After The Treehouse, I had to drop off the little ones and go to Activity Days which I was over. We made chapstick and painted nails. The girls all had fun. After Activity Days, I had to run home and make dinner. After dinner, we had our FHE for the week. I spent quite a bit of time on our lesson, and, like a little kid, got my feelings hurt when I felt like no one really cared. I always have to do too much; nothing can be plain and simple. I need to be okay with doing simple things and not having to make things too extravagant. (For example, the night before Easter I was up until 1 AM cutting out rabbit paw prints to put on the floor. Christian and Emma wouldn't have cared if there were paw prints or not, but I did.)

*Starting to re-train for the Ogden marathon. I had to take a couple of weeks off because of my knee so it was good to be out running again. I worry that I won't be ready come May, but I all ready paid so I will walk the 13.1 miles if I have to. I will get that darn shirt! Marcus' sister also talked me into doing this bike ride/race thing in June. A lot of the women and girls in Marcus' family are doing this ride. It is a 36 mile ride up towards Logan. There is a longer ride, but we are only doing the short version. Thank heavens. So now I have to start training for the bike ride and continue training for the marathon. I think I am trying to kill myself.

*Sitting here in agony because I am a chicken. I hate hate hate hate HATE..did I mention hate, the dentist. I have a horrible toothache and need a root canal, but I have put off calling the dentist because I hate the dentist; the smells, the sounds, the pain. I have to call tomorrow and get in. Anyone have any Valium?

It was a good week. Kids are obnoxious. Marcus is busy. I'm going crazy...not much has changed. I need to take more pictures so there are less words and more cute kids to look at. I'll work on that...

Project Say Something...FIRE. FIRE. FIRE.

I had the chance to ask the question this week for PSS. I asked the group:
“Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire; after saving your loved ones, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any ONE item. What would it be?”

I really liked this question. It makes you stop and think what is really important to you. I also thought it would be an easy one to answer...I thought wrong. Marcus and I talked about it one night, and everything I thought would be the "one" item, I talked myself out of. My wedding dress...no. Why? Yah, I love that dress. It has great memories, but it's a dress. If my dress burns, I am still married and still have the memories. My mom's engagement ring that I have...no. I would love someday to get it fixed up and back to her, but again, great memories but nothing is different if it gets lost. I really thought long and hard about my grandpa's scriptures. These are in my room on my table and have been there for the past five years. I don't use them because they are very old, and I don't want to damage them. As I am typing this, I actually think that the Book of Mormon was my grandpa's he used on his mission and the Bible was my grandma's...I'll have to look when I go up to bed. I talked myself out of this one just because I thought of the "one"..okay, Marcus was the one to bring it up first, but I am stealing his ideas. (No, I don't feel guilty. It was a good one.) The one thing I would grab if my house was on fire and all my loved ones and animals were safe would be the bin in the basement of Christian's stuff he had when he came home. When we brought Christian home, he had the clothes on his back, a coat, a sippy cup and an Elmo doll. I put everything in a bin shortly after he came home so he can have these things when he gets older. I bought him a new Elmo doll so he could actually play with one; I didn't want him to ruin the one Tammie gave him. I want to get all the letters and few pictures we have from Tammie scanned into the computer and then put the originals in the bin as well. Tammie also made Christian a blanket. I am still trying to decide if we let him actually use the blanket or put it away so he can have it when he is older. It's all hand stitched and Christian isn't exactly gentle with his things. Anyway, without that bin, Christian would have nothing from his birth family; he deserves the few things in that bin for when he is older.

Grabbing all my pictures shouldn't be a concern for me..once Marcus gets off his lazy butt..err, I mean gets a little bit of spare time. Each restaurant has their own computer and he is going to set it up so we save all our pictures on our server at the house, and then the server backs up on both the computers in Layton and Orem. So if something happened to our computers or the house, we would still have the pictures for the past seven years we have been together. The pictures before I went digital would be gone, which would be sad, but Christian deserves his bin.

I am not a very materialistic person; the less clutter and stuff is better. I throw away a lot of stuff and sometimes regret it later. Other then Christian's stuff, there really isn't much of anything that I would be devastated over if it were lost. As long as my little ones and hubby are safe, life is good.