Measure of a Woman

I just spent the morning with a very interesting group of women. They were all of the mindset that as women we need to have our own separate lives aside from our families in order to feel complete. They feel it is important to "be your own person".
While I do not feel that I am defined by my children and my husband, I recognize that they are a great part of who I am and I do not feel the need for a life apart from them. I do not feel lost in the life that I share with my children and husband.
I am often asked when I will be returning to school and when I will start a career of my own. I can't possible want to sit at home forever as my brain turns to mush....
I love being at home with my kids and there are hardly any moments when my brain feels like mush. Since ending my college career and having children I have been able to explore many of my own interests and ideals. I am free to experiment in the kitchen as often as I please. I love being the head cook in the house. It is always challenging and exciting to make delicious food while staying within our not so hefty budget. I have been able to study health and nutrition and focus on getting my own body into shape. I have read every book that I wanted to read. I have been to the temple and learned more about the gospel. I have done all of this while being a wife and mother. I am still myself, there is just more to me, and there will be more tomorrow than there is today :)

Sunday Potluck

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Crunch

We are having a potluck after church today and I wanted to try something new. I made these all on the stovetop, so they are great for summertime. Ty said they taste just like a big muddy buddy, and I agree. They are super delicious!

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 sticks (8 ounces) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• One 16-ounce jar creamy peanut butter
• 3 cups crispy rice cereal
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions:

1. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. In a medium saucepan, melt half of the chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter over low heat. Remove from the heat; stir in 1 cup peanut butter, then 2 cups rice cereal. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared pan; refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Wash out the saucepan.

2. In the saucepan, combine the remaining 2 sticks butter and the salt; melt over medium heat, stirring. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining peanut butter and the confectioners' sugar. Spread half of the peanut butter mixture over the cereal layer. Top with the remaining 1 cup cereal.

3. In a small bowl, microwave the remaining chocolate at medium power until melted, 1 1/2 minutes. Stir into the remaining peanut butter mixture. Spread evenly on the cereal-topped peanut butter layer; refrigerate until set, about 45 minutes. Cut into 16 pieces.

Party!

We had a fantastic Saturday! We went to a super fun backyard barbeque/water party at a friend's house. They have a great, huge backyard. We all pitched in to rent a big bouncy house with a water slide. Max couldn't get enough.

He went down on his stomach at first and then as he got braver he would jump off the top and come flying down or somersault his way to the bottom.

I tried to coax Mia into the water (it was so hot out!) but she preferred to stand by the bubble machine and laugh at the bubbles.

She finally decided she wanted her clothes back on and ate a hot dog. She then spent the rest of the time playing in a Little Tykes Cozy Coupe car.

Ty and I had a fabulous time playing with our kids and talking with all of our friends. I got to have some great girl time! Ty and the guys talked basketball. We had some delicious food and it was a wonderful kick-off to August!

Due Dates vs. Real Life

This week I am 32 weeks pregnant!
Ty just got his vacation schedule for school. It looks like he has a break the week of September 21-25. My due date is the 28th, so we are hoping the baby decides to cooperate with our schedule and show up during Ty's break. Here's hoping! :)

Time and Lifelong Learning

I was reading the August visiting teaching message in the Ensign, and I was really impressed by this quote;

"We cannot waste time entertaining ourselves when we have the chance to read or to listen to whatever will help us learn what is true and useful."
-Pres. Henry B. Eyring

Life can be a balancing act and those free moments that come along can be quite the temptation. This morning I decided to use my time before the kids got up to do some serious Book of Mormon study. I was able to read 5 chapters, which for me is Huge! I read out of Alma the story of Amalickiah conspiring to be king and Captain Moroni defending the liberty of the Nephites. I was able to get some great insights and thoughts that had not come to me before.
I am so glad for the opportunity that we have to learn and study truth. I am glad that I can stay at home with my children and continue my own education in so many different ways. I am going to try harder to use my time more wisely and focus on learning more than just entertainment.

A Little Christmas in July

Gingerbread Cupcakes With Caramel Glaze

I love gingerbread! It makes me all nostalgic. When I first started baking I used my grandma's old Betty Crocker cookbook. One of the first recipes I really got good at were these really delicious, big soft ginger cookies. They started my devotion to gingerbread. I found this recipe for gingerbread cupcakes and had to give them a test run in plenty of time before the real holidays roll around. They are really moist and delicious and I made a bunch of them, so if anyone else likes gingerbread....you can stop by and have a few! :)

For the Cupcakes:
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon ginger
1 stick butter
1 cup boiling water
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups molasses

1. Preheat oven to 35o degrees.
2. Mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger.
3. Melt the butter in the boiling water and add to the dry ingredients.
4. Blend in the molasses and the eggs.
5. Pour into cupcake liners and bake for 17-18 minutes (these cooked up pretty quick for me) or you can pour all of the batter into an 8x8 inch pan and bake for 35 minutes.

For the Glaze:
1/2 stick butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
pinch salt
1/2 cup heavy cream

1. In a saucepan melt the butter with the sugars and the salt. Cook for about 2 minutes until thick.
2. Add the cream and boil 8 minutes.
3. Pour hot glaze over cool cakes and dig in!

Sunday and the Weekend Wrap Up

(Mia's hair in french braids!)
It is Sunday evening again! It is the very last week in July! It has been a great month and we have had a wonderful weekend. I am usually a very early riser. I like to get up before Ty and the kids to do my scripture study, prayers, exercise, etc... Saturday morning, however, I decided to sleep in. It was so much fun! The kids slept in late and we all woke up feeling so good. We had breakfast together, and then Ty went to play raquetball with some friends. The kids and I took a trip down to Whole Foods in Green Hills. It was a very fun place to visit and we ended up eating large amounts of the best cookies ever.
Saturday night we had a ward activity in honor of pioneer day. It was so much fun! The food was delicious and there were lots of fun games to play and watch. I think the highlight of the evening was the tug-of-war between the husbands and the wives (The wives won :) no thanks to me and my very pregnant self!)
Sunday came and we went to church. The speakers were amazing and the lessons were fab! I am recharged for the week and hoping for a good one!

Almost the weekend!

We began our Thursday with a trip to Monkey Joe's! It is such a great place for little people to get their wiggles out and even better when it is free! (Which it was for us today!)

The place was crowded today with different summer camps from the area, but Max and Mia didn't seem to mind.

After Monkey Joe's we headed to Books-A-Million, because I was in desperate need of a calendar. I know, it's July, but believe it or not our current calendar only went through July of this year and I like having a calendar around! I found a calendar and Mia shopped for horses to ride. After shopping we took our free kid's meal coupons to Chick-Fil-A. It is a very happy place to be. We left full, the kids had some playground time, and we now have 2 more toy cows that we did not have before!
It is Thursday and Ty's last day of classes for the week. Tomorrow morning he has to take the SEE exam (whatever that is) but as soon as he is done he is free for the weekend!
This afternoon we are ,making chocolate chip cookies to celebrate!

Happy Tuesday!

hope everyone is having a great morning. I found this article titled,
"Two Minutes to Happiness"
Just some quick tips to boost those happy endorphins!

• Look through old photographs. According to researchers, this could boost your mood more than eating chocolate. (Which is saying alot) Bust out that photo book!
• Inhale a calming scent such as lavender or orange.
  I love a good smelling house. This morning I woke up to the smell of pulled pork in the slow cooker for tonight's dinner. It was pretty yummy, but I was ready to put it in the fridge and turn on my scentsy!
• Take a walk around the block. If you’re feeling down, even a low-key walk can lift your mood.
  
• Clear the clutter. Piles of paper and clutter on your desk indicate that something isn’t getting done. Even if you can’t clear everything away, straighten into neat piles – your stress level will likely lessen.
• Talk to a cheerful person. You are the company you keep!

I personally find great joy in a new magazine or a good book.
What makes you smile?

Pudding Pops!

Over the weekend we had the chance to try some great popsicle recipes that were posted on ourbestbites.com. It is a really great recipe site. Max and Mia are huge popsicle fans and they really loved these flavors.

Mint-Chocolate Cookie Pudding Pops
1 small box instant chocolate pudding
1 3/4 C half and half
10 Oreo cookies, crushed (about 1 heaping cup)
1/4 t peppermint extract

Blend pudding mix, extract, and half and half in a blender until smooth. Stir in crushed cookies by hand. Place in molds and freeze.



PB Banana Pudding Pops
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 3/4 C milk
1 ripe banana*
1/4 C Peanut Butter

Blend all ingredients until smooth. Place in molds and freeze.