Robert

HaPpY BiRtHdAy!

RoBeRt!

Robert--I can't believe you are two!

Hiding Treats

Apparently I am not very good at hiding treats. I just found Robert and Katelyn downing the Costco size bag of chocolate chips (that I hid two days ago for the same reason.) Saturday I bought raisins in those mini snack boxes. They make a good snack for church. While Robbie and I were getting ready for church the kids found them. Robert doesn't like raisins so his box was empty, but with chewed up raisins spit at all over the floor. I figured Katelyn downed only two boxes, until after church when I found 7 more empty boxes in the garbage can. I also found some of Tanner's toys and an empty bottle of his in the trash too. (I blame Robert for this one.) I guess I better start going through my trash before I take it outside.

Happy Birthday Elder Gardner!

Uncle Kenny gets hotter as the sun goes down!

It's not what you think...

First of all Robert is not sitting on Tanner's head. See Tanner below. If the picture could move he would be waving his arms and kicking his legs.
Robert keeps getting into Tanner's crib. If Tanner is not in there, then we will leave Robert in the crib when he yells for help to get out. The strategy, if he can't get out he won't get back in, apparently doesn't work.

No one else probably even noticed, but Robert does have more than one shirt...at least two. It just is a coincidence he is wearing the same shirt from the last post about him. As far as shorts, yes he only has one pair and they are in the wash. He would have more, but my skinny boy needs me to fix them so they will stay on. And speaking of wash, that is why Tanner does not have a sheet.

Thai Beef Salad

1/4 C. soy sauce

1/4 C. brown sugar

1 lb. sirloin steak cut into strips

mix together and marinate 30 minutes or more

Brown beef over high heat. (We like our steak on the grill.)

combine the following:

Lettuce or Spinach

cooked beef

chopped carrots

chopped green onion

cooked liguini (I like to cut my spaghetti into smaller pieces and I like more spaghetti than the picture shows.)

.

Dressing:

1/4 c. soy sauce

2 T. brown sugar

1/4 C. rice vinegar

2 T. lemon juice

2 tsp. sesame oil

1 large garlic clove minced

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

.

mix together and pour dressing over top of salad.

Thursdays = good food

I love Thursdays! Thursdays are lunch days. (and the Office is on.) Which means yummy food, talking with friends, and tons of chaos with 12+ kids 5 yrs. and younger. Yes, I am happy to host and happy that my turn only comes every six weeks. I posted the recipes below that I used for lunch.

Fresh Mexican Salsa

My aunt Cindy shared this family favorite salsa recipe with me. I made it for my friends and everyone loved it and ate it until it was gone!

10 fresh tomatoes (Roma)

1 medium onion, chopped

1/3 c. chopped cilantro

1 pkg. Good Seasons Italian dressing dry mix

2 avacados, chopped chunky

1 can corn drained

1 can black beans

1/8-1/4 c. lime juice

1/2 to 1 tsp. salt

Garlic powder to taste

1 small jalapeno, seeded and chopped fine

Mix all together and enjoy with tortilla chips.

Mango Salsa

I love salsa! This salsa is not so traditional with the mango as a base. Thanks Julianne for sharing this recipe with me!

2 mangoes, diced

1/2 finely diced red onion

1/4 c. chopped cilantro

2 Tbs. dice jalapenos

3 Tbs. fresh lime juice

Mix together and refrigerate.

Sweet Pork

This yummy pork recipe is from my cousin Tami. I will have to post a picture when I reheat the left overs tomorrow night.

2 lbs pork roast
3 C. salsa
1+ C. brown sugar

Pour salsa and brown sugar over pork and cook in crock pot on low 4-5 hours. Shred pork and place back in crock pot for 30 minutes. We love to eat this on hard rolls or wrapped in a tortilla with cheese, beans, and rice.

Strawberry Pie

So easy and so delicious.

1 pkg strawberry Danish Dessert pie filling

4 c. fresh strawberries rinsed and sliced in half

1 graham cracker crust

Cook Danish Dessert pie filling according to directions, cool slightly. Mix with strawberries and pour into graham cracker crust. Refrigerate 4-6 hours. Serve with whip cream or ice cream.

Honey Lime Enchiladas

This has to be my current favorite dinner dish. Sorry Robbie, this means we will be having it at least monthly until I have worn out the recipe. Below is the recipe with Renae's changes from the original.

6 Tablespoons honey

5 Tablespoons lime juice (1 large lime)

1 Tablespoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 pound chicken, cooked and shredded

8-10 flour tortillas

1/4 pound monterey jack cheese, shredded

16 ounces enchilada sauce

1 cup fat-free evaporated milk

Mix the first four ingredients and toss with shredded chicken. Let it marinate for at least 1/2 hour. Pour about 1/2 cup enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan. Fill flour tortillas with chicken and shredded cheese, saving about 1 cup of cheese to sprinkle on top of enchiladas. Mix the remaining enchilada sauce with the milk and leftover marinade. Pour sauce on top of the enchiladas and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until brown and crispy on top.

This time I made them with corn tortillas at Robbie's suggestion (too bad he was in Georgia so he didn't get to try them.) Either corn or flour tortillas you can't go wrong. I also omitted the evaporated milk which allowed the enchilada sauce to add a little more heat to the dish. When I make these again I could go either way with or without the added milk/cream. Here is the link to the original recipe.

What we are up to....

We have been busy taking care of our own babies. Katelyn is feeding purple Katelyn a cookie. The batteries in the camera had to be changed, so I missed the moment when they were both feeding their babies a bottle. I tried to get Katelyn to recreate the moment, but I was told Purple Katelyn was all done and was eating her cookie NOW! Purple Katelyn accompanied us to St. George. Katelyn packed her some clothes and food and put everything in the car. We even had a special booster seat in the car for Purple Katelyn to ride in. Also, Purple Katelyn uses the potty on occasion.Katelyn likes to play where she is mommy and I am Katelyn. We already of two Roberts in the house. So it can get confusing between all the "Katelyns" and Roberts that I am glad we just have one Tanner.Katelyn keeps asking to go back to G-ma's T-3. One morning I found her ironing her shirts and later folding and packing them to go on a trip.

And Finally without naming any NAMES. SOMEONE has been picking on my beautiful tulips. SOMEONE has been picking off the petals and SOMEONE has poured bubbles in some of the flowers.

I guess there is always next year.