Monday, September 21, 2009

(UN) Domestic Goddess

So, I've been trying to be a little more domestic lately. And by a little more I mean actually making real home cooked meals. See, the problem is, Skyler is a pretty picky eater......if it were up to him he'd have pasta every single day. Lunch and dinner. Which really is fine by me--he could have it for every meal if he really wanted....but then he'd most likely have a 300 lb. wife as well. So you see, I'm trying to open him up to different meals every night. Ones that don't come straight out of a box. I'd like to think I'm a pretty good cook......I'm better at BAKING things like cookies and cupcakes and stuff, but hey, I can follow a recipe you know.

What I'm not good at: Sewing and scrapbooking and stamping and all that other "mormon" stuff. The thing is, I've tried. Really I have. I WANT to scrapbook and sew and stamp and such but it just isn't in me!

But anyway, back to cooking. The other night I made a de-lish homemade chicken pot pie......Sky came home from work and saw it sitting on top of the stove. He said, "What's this?" I said, "It's chicken pot pie-hope that's ok." Sky said, "Where did you find such a big one?" Me: "Uhh, I MADE it." And it was pretty tasty. So, for all you undomestic goddesses out there, here's the recipe (from a cooking blog I found but can't remember which one):



1 pie crust
3 chicken breasts
5 red potatoes
2 can Cream of Chicken soup
1 bag frozen peas and carrots - thawed
1 sweet onion - diced
butter
egg

1. Heat oven to 450
2. Heat two large pans of water - these are for the chicken and potatoes
*I usually add some chicken bullion to the water for taste - and we could all use a little more sodium right?
3. Trim fat from chicken and dice the potatoes, then add to the boiling water, separately of course
4. Cook the bottom of the pie crust first, in the oven. Just follow the directions on the back of the pie crust box for a "one crust pie" - I cook mine for 9 minutes. Make sure you set the timer. After cooking, turn the oven down to 400 to cook the pie
*this isn't a one crust pie of course but I do not like having a soggy pie bottom. noboby does. you'll add the top crust later.
5. saute the onion in butter until it is translucent and tender - it can even be a little golden
6. when the chicken is done shred it into bite size pieces
7. the potatoes are done when they break apart by being stabbed with a fork - strain them
8. combine the shredded chicken, potatoes, peas and carrots, onions and the 2 cans of Cream of Chicken soup in a large bowl
9. pour the glorious mixture into the already-cooked pie crust
10. now add the top crust and trim to fit the pie plate.
11. whisk the egg in a small bowl and baste over the top crust
*the egg is strickly for cosmetic purposes, it helps the pie keep it's color and provides a shine when cooked
12. make 4 slits in the top of the pie with a knife to provide steam release while the pie is baking
13. bake for 40 minutes and then let the pie cool for a few minutes on top of the stove

Besides being a cooking genius :) I also LOVE to decorate my house. So while some of you are sewing and scrapbooking and stuff...I'm out shopping for home decor! Also, another thing I think I'm good at is making some darn cute babies! And by "I" I mean my husband and me (but mostly me :)) Seriously peeps!! I know we all think our own babies are super cute but really, no really...mine are!! The other day at the store some older guy told me that E and T were the most beautiful children he had ever seen....then he said "and I have three of my own!" Ouch, but ok--it's true!! I mean, look at these faces!!!




I'd give you the recipe on how to make these but then that wouldn't be very domestic of me would it?! :-) Hope everyone has a domesticated filled week!!

3rd Annual Beach Vacation!

Last week we enjoyed a much needed vacation to sunny California! Skyler had to go to training for work, so the boys and I tagged along because we love nothing more than a free vacation (transportation to and from and our hotel was paid for by Sky's firm)! We left Saturday and went straight to the beach! We loved Santa Monica beach so much from last year we decided to go again. This was Ethan's 3rd time at the beach and Teigan's first and they both loved it! It was a little cloudy but still plenty warm to play in the water.

Teigan's first time in sand

Seriously the cutest picture ever! Holding hands looking at the ocean. LOVE the matching shirts and swimsuits!

Running from the waves

Ethan got drenched!

And again.......

Mommy rescuing him

Stop the CUTENESS

Teigan loved the water!

On the Santa Monica Pier....the blue bird was originally on my shoulder but the guy who gave him to me walked away and I was starting to get freaked out because it was trying to eat my earring so I asked Sky to take the bird....he said no but he didn't really have much choice :) then the guy came back and put the green bird on Ethan. As you can tell, neither of my boys particularly loved having the birds on them!
I can never get both boys to look at the camera and smile at the same time! But seriously--how CUTE is Teigan?? Really people!
Tired after a looong dat at the beach. Watching a movie on his "computer" AKA portable dvd player AKA life saver!


Sunday we got up early and headed to Disneyland. We were there from 10:30 in the morning until 9:30 at night with not one single meltdown from either of our boys! Teigan slept when he needed to and Ethan did great waiting in the lines!! He so loved seeing his favorite movie characters. He's really gotten into the disney movies lately....he loves Cinderella, Jungle Book, Monsters Inc, Peter Pan, Finding Nemo etc etc.....so Disneyland was especially fun for him this time around. We did the Playhouse Disney Live concert in California Adventure and it was so entertaining and Ethan just laughed and danced through the whole thing! Teigan was such a trooper too. Oh, and Pirates of the Caribbean is still "not scary" according to Ethan. Ethan was tall enough to go on most rides like the Madderhorn....I didn't realize how FAST that rollercoaster was but Ethan seemed to enjoy it! It's crazy to think that the last time I went to Disneyland I was pregnant with little Teigy and this time he was enjoying it with us! Life goes by so fast!

Ethan with his favorite movie characters: Sully, Mike Wazowski and Boo

Ethan LOVED meeting Sully. You can't tell in the picture because I think he was a little surprised that he was actually meeting Sully....but when we walked up to him Ethan said, "I love your movie!" Then he said, "Where's Mike Wazowski?!"
Watching the parade

I couldn't believe they wouldn't let Teig sit on Skyler's lap! Made me a little nervous.....

Riding like a big boy!

Love this boy!!

On King Triton's Carousel. Ethan didn't want to ride the one with horses, but the one with fish......yes!

Teigan's cute little hands holding on!

The handsome boys in my life!

Mommy and Ethan

At Mickey Mouse's house


While Sky was in training all day--I ventured out around the Los Angeles area. I'm proud to say I didn't get lost once! And those California freeways are nuts I tell you!!! We did the L.A. Zoo, the Children's Museum, and a Bounce House. It really was a lot of fun to spend such quality time with my boys!

Teig at the Children's Museum

My little basketball player/football player/baseball player (he says he wants to be them all!)

Playing the Water Symphony at the museum

Climbing the waterfall at the museum

Teigan watching patiently as E plays in the water

E's favorite thing at the museum by far!

Ethan's very first art project!!! Made a dragonfly at the museum--he was so creative with the beads and buttons! Although, the dragonfly is missing an eye.....I'm such a proud mama!!


All in all it was a fabulous trip! We are looking forward to next year's trip to the beach!! It sure is good to be home though!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Teigan is getting TOO big!

So I haven't been very good about posting Teigan's monthly pictures. Here they are:

Teigan's 6 months


Unfortunately someone "misplaced" the camera for his 7th month pictures so here are his 8 month pictures:




And his 9 month pictures:


I have a lot of pictures like this--as soon as I would sit him up, he'd slump down......

Lots of pictures like this.......

And this.........


Have I mentioned how much we LOVE this little guy?? He is absolutely perfect for our family. He's a great little brother and loves his big brother. I still think having two is a breeze because Teigan is just so chill!

He just broke his 2 bottom teeth (finally!) and was a trooper during the teething process. We didn't even realize he was teething! He loves loves loves to eat bananas. They are his favorite. I just cut them up and they are gone in seconds. He also LOVES avocados. He and Ethan both love when we have avocados for dinner. Let's see....he can pull himself into a standing position and can even stand on his own without holding on to anything for a few seconds. He says mama and dada and baba (for bottle) and loves to "sing" with Ethan. He's quite the dancer as well :) Oh we just love love love our little Teigan Grant!!! Seriously. So. Stinkin. CUTE!!! We feel so blessed to be parents to both our boys and are so grateful for their healthy little bodies and super sweet spirits!

Picture Overload

When I say overload, let me assure you that that is an understatement. :)

One of my favorite pictures ever!!

A common mode of transportation for Teig....

Teig's first experience with an m&m.

Ethan said he was "feeding" Mickey. I laughed out loud.

A birthday cake I made....

Skyler's idea of "feeding" Teigan

Love this face!

Teig crawled up to sit on Daddy

At the zoo. I love having 2 boys. They are best friends!

E loved the train and rode it over and over and over.........

T fell asleep in the stroller. Comfortable, huh??

LOVE this picture. E comforting T.

Playing baseball....E said he needed a helmet like his Uncle Scott and came back with his Elmo halloween bucket. Again, I laughed out loud.

Being brothers....

Teigan "helping" Ethan eat his food.

Running through the water feature at the park

Ethan with his "girlfriend" Emme. Emme told him when they get bigger they need to have true love's kiss! I love it!