The Cabin in February

Wow! What a weekend. A long, 4 day weekend. My Aunt and Uncle were so amazing and let Chris and I take some family up to their cabin. They will seriously never know how much it meant to me :) We had so much fun! I just loved it. I love love love playing in the snow. And we got to take our little snowmobiles up and ride them. Just the get-a-way I needed. It put a smile on my face, and a spring in my step.

Chris and I have such similar pasts. He grew up camping, fishing, snowmobiling, and his dad even had a Honda 90! Seriously? My dad has a couple of Honda 90's :) We did the exact same things when I was young. So this weekend was sort of like re-living my child hood. And Chris and Mark got to pretend, they still have killer snowmobiles, and can ride like the good old days, before Chris got married :)

I took SO many pictures. I tried to put just a few dozen (ha..ha..) in my blog. But all of them are on Facebook, incase you want to check them out.

We'd been talking about this for weeks. So when we finally packed to go, the girls got really excited and didn't sleep much. Here they are, in the parking lot waiting to go up to the cabin. You have to ride the snowmobiles, and tow all of your food, and clothes up in a sled. No cars....

We went a day before everyone else got there. So we went on a few family rides :) It was a lot of fun!
I just LOVE this picture! The sun is going down, and it's so peaceful. And I love Elle's little hat.
Going down the sled hill we made :) I could have stayed outside all day. I loved the rides, the snow sparkling in the sun, the blue skies, the pine trees, the sled hill, the snowmobile tracks, etc.. etc... The cabin was great, but lets face it, spending my days outdoors, is number one in my book :) It was a little piece of heaven....
We had a lot of fun playing ping pong! Everyone played at some point. The cabin is so nice! Not your little cabin in the woods. More like a 2nd residence. Probably more square footage than my home. Lots of fun :)

Loading in some beverages :)
The cabin :) And a very happy Bree!

Riding....

Out on the trail :)
Chris and Mark, taking the sleds in through the trees in some deeper snow. In Heaven!!
Look at this face!!! Seriously one of my favorite pics :)
Riding in the field. Seeing what these little old sleds can do!

Practicing Side Hilling... who knew?


We made the most awesome sled hill. From the road out front, all the way to the backyard of the cabin. It was super long, and super fun!!!


The boys, minus Roy.

Ryan, Chris, Mark, and McKay.
The girls with Grandma J. Or grandma Bump Bump!
No one wanted to go. They were already talking about next year! So, I guess we'll have to see what my aunt and uncle think about that idea? I can't believe it went by so fast. I guess that's how you know you're having a really good time :)

January is coming to an end...

A few things..... some Thoughts, a Recipe, Paint Color, and playing with Daddy :)

Well, January is almost over. Can you believe it! Another Birthday has come and gone for me. The holidays are over, and life is back to normal. I think this is the hardest time of the year for me. The Winter blues can tend to set in. There is not as much sun, it's cold, snow on the ground, and not many holidays, no vacations, or days Chris has off from work. Winter seems to go on forever!! Especially, since I haven't been skiing in a few years. And spring is a long long time away. Now is the time I start dreaming of summer, and planning the things we will do when it's warm outside again.

Every year we talk about doing a Winter trip. Something fun, when its gloomy and wintery outside. And we never get around to it. But things are about to change!! Thanks to my Aunt and Uncle, who are letting us stay at their cabin this weekend! We are about to spend 4 glorious days with some family, Snowmobiling, sledding, playing ping pong, games, watching movies, drinking hot chocolate, and of course eating yummy food!! I'm so excited. It's just the little getaway that I NEED right now. Something fun :) And I'm sure I will have a full report for you next week, when we get back!

On another note, I have found an awesome food site, that I've been getting some amazing recipes from. I thought I would share one of the recipes that is next on my list to try! And if you try it before I do, maybe you can let me know how yummy it is :) There's even a picture at the bottom of the recipe, so you can see just what you'll be making!

Crispy Chicken with Creamy Italian Sauce and Bowtie Pasta

www.jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com Time: 45 minutes Yield: 6 servings Recipe from Jamie Cooks It Up! 3 large chicken breasts 5 C corn flakes 3/4 C flour 1/2 t salt 1/2 C milk 6 T olive oil 1 12 oz package bowtie noodles (farfalle) Sauce: 1 10 oz container Philadelphia Cooking Cream (Italian Cheese and Herb Flavor) 2 cans cream of chicken soup 1 C chicken broth 1/2 C milk fresh parsley, chopped (optional) 1. In a small food processor crush the corn flakes into crumbs. 2. Add the 1/2 t salt to the 3/4 C flour. Stir to combine. 3. Place the flour, milk and crushed cornflakes each into their own separate pan. Loaf pans work well for this. If you don't have three loaf pans, do not dismay. You could use pie tins, or round cake pans...what ever works for you. 4. Place your chicken breasts in a gallon sized Ziploc bag and seal the top. Pound the chicken flat with a meat mallet. You will really be thankful for the Ziploc bag in this step. Who wants a bunch of chicken guts flying around their kitchen? Not me...that's who. 5. Take a pair of sharp kitchen scissors and cut each breast in half. 6. Dredge the chicken in the flour. Be sure it gets covered on both sides. Lay the floured chicken onto a small cookie sheet and slide the sheet into the freezer. Let it hang out there for about 5 minutes. 7. Start cooking your pasta. 8. Remove the chicken from the freezer and dredge each piece in the milkand then immediately into the corn flake crumbs. Again, be sure both sides are covered well. 9. Add the olive oil to a hot skillet. 10. Carefully lay each chicken piece into the hot oil. Sprinkle with a little bit of salt and pepper. Cook over medium high heat for about 5 minutes.... or until the underside of each piece is nice and golden brown. Turn the pieces over. If the bottom of the pan is dry add just a bit more olive oil to the side of the pan. Swirl the pan around a bit to let the oil flow to all sides. 11. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Let the chicken cook for about 7 more minutes, being careful not to burn the bottoms. Burned bottoms are not advised. In any shape or form. Thank you. 12. When your chicken has been cooked through remove it from the pan and place it on a plate. Cover with tin foil. 13. Into the same pan pour your broth. Philly Cooking Creme, Cream of Chicken, and milk. Whisk the sauce around and let it get all warm and bubbly. Should only take about 3 minutes. 14. Slice your chicken into strips and serve over your cooked pasta and sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley if you choose. Enjoy

I think I have finally found my new Paint Color! I'm planning on painting my main living room and dinning room :) Well, what do you think? I can tell you, that I didn't think I would go with a cool color, because I'm all about the warm ones, but I'm loving this! Mostly because my couch and chair are red, and I just love how the red lamp in this photo goes so well with this paint. I also , think it's new and IN, and there is also a bit of green in my couch as well. I think it's a winner!!! One of these months, when I get that HUGE project done, I'll have to post some pics. But for now this is your tease! :)

P.S. Thank you Pinterest!

And last but not least, a few more pics of the girls outside playing with their Daddy! The BEST Daddy in the whole world. He really is so much fun. He had the girls running around chasing him in a major snowball fight, laughing so hard they would fall down, sledding, and enjoying themselves to the Max! What more could you wish for? :) It's been a good January.

Everyday Life, and My Birthday

Super fun things don't happen every day. I mean, we have those days all week long, where we are in our routines, and there is school, and work, etc.. We can't swim, and party all the time, but we try and make our days fun! It's the little everyday moments, that make up most of our lives. And we try and make our days exciting around here. I've posted a couple pictures of everyday stuff. Like Elle and I building block towers, and the chocolate chip cookies I made for the girls one night. Everyday things like that :)

My Birthday was yesterday. I have had the most amazing Birthday! I have such amazing friends and family :) Sunday night, my mom invited our little family over for a Birthday dinner. She made one of my favorite dinners, and went all out. She even made a cake. She didn't have a cake mix, so she made it from scratch! Wow, that's love :) I didn't think I was getting any presents, but I got a really cool one..... a new sheet set for our bed. Being, that we've used the same one set everyday for about 6 years, I was pretty excited!! Dad had fun taping our little party, with his new mini video camera. (His Christmas present). My parents are so good to me! I love them so much!!! And I LOVE Cake :)

So yesterday, my actual Birthday, I went to lunch at a friends house, just a few doors up the street. She is a good friend of mine in my ward, and now my new visiting teacher. She invited a couple more girls in the ward, which just happen to be friends of mine, and we had a nice lunch! It was really fun to chat, while the kids played. I just LOVE having wonderful friends in my ward. Chris and I really love our neighborhood, ward, and I don't think we'll ever move again :)

Chris and I had plans to eat out last night. And when Chris got home from work, I was so surprised when he walked in the door with a dozen roses! He is my Prince Charming, that's for sure :) I would love to elaborate, and it would get long, and mushy, but he brought me roses..... enough said!

Our dinner was fantastic! Thanks Adelle, for watching the girls!!! This was one of the best Birthdays I've ever had :)

The Clearfield Aquatic Center

Bree had a 4 day weekend, this past weekend. So Chris decided to take Monday off work to spend the day with us. Little did he know, I was going to talk him into taking us girls swimming :)

We went to the Clearfield Aquatic Center. Along with the rest of the world. It was so crowded, it was insane. I guess everyone else had the same idea as me. We even saw our neighbors from a few doors down there too. Funny!

The girls were super excited. We haven't been swimming for a really long time. Maybe since the summer. We love to swim. And I've wanted to go, but we haven't made it until now. I see a lot more swimming in our future :)

There is a huge indoor water slide, lazy river, water toys, lap pool, etc... Just like the pool in Lehi, where we used to live. I used to swim laps a lot. And I think it would be fun to start up again.

Elle and Chris went on the big water slide a few times, but Bree wasn't sure about that. It took Bree a while to get back into it. But once she did, she swam under water, and went down the little slide over and over again!

It was fun to do something for the girls on our day off. A great family outing :)

It Snowed!

Wow, it's been such a dry Winter so far. But on Saturday morning, we woke up and the World was White! When Bree told me it had snowed, I thought, oh yeah, probably just a dusting. But when I looked out my window, I was pleasantly surprised. I LOVE the Snow :)

The backyard....

My cute girls, couldn't wait to go out and play!

And of course, I joined them. I mean, I wasn't going to let them have all the fun :)
We always make a sled hill down our deck steps. The girls love it. Here is Elle, trying out the new sled that grandma and grandpa gave her for her Birthday in December.
Chris, providing his snow removal skills...

I pulled the girls in one of their sleds. It was one way, I could get a little exercise while having fun with the girls.
And tonight after church, and dinner, Bree wanted to go out and play again. And it was the perfect opportunity to have some more family fun!

We have 1 to 4pm Church, so we were kind of out in the dark. But we didn't mind.

I absolutely Love where we live. Our huge backyard, and I have to pinch myself almost everyday. I'm so grateful for my blessings. I never want to forget how lucky I am. I love spending time with my little family. I am so happy!! And we LOVE the Snow :)

New Years, and Stuff

I can't believe the Holidays are over! I can't believe it's 2012! All of our Christmas is put away. Even the beautiful lights that were on our house. Put in storage, until next year. Chris goes back to work tomorrow, and then the following day, Bree goes back to school. We will resume our normal schedule.

Our little family stayed home for New Years. Just the 4 of us. We let the girls stay up until Midnight, and they both made it. All though, the minute we were done jumping up and down, blowing our horns, and saying "Happy New Year", Bree was ready to hit the sack! We played games with the girls, had an incredible spread of food, way too much for the 4 of us, and watched the ball drop in Times Square, from the comfort of our family room. It was relaxed and fun!

The only pictures I took, were of the girls yesterday morning, and then the food I made for our little New Years celebration.

Today was our first day of church on our new schedule. 1 to 4! We haven't had that schedule in years. It is really weird to come home, eat dinner, and then realize that it's already dark outside. It was also Elle's first day in Sunbeams. She was so grown up! Bree has a set of Chris' old scriptures that she takes each week, and Elle wanted to do the same. So Chris dug out an old set of my scriptures for Elle. She was in heaven. Both girls wore a CTR ring too. I think the only complaint Elle had, was that in sharing time, when they were calling on kids to be helpers, she raised her hand several times, but was never called on. This made her mad, and she wasn't in such a good mood when we picked her up. She was probably tired from staying up so late the night before also :)

Chris and I have been working on a 1000 piece puzzle for days now. One I borrowed from my mom, and I think I'd have to say that it's one of the hardest puzzles we've ever done! But we finished it tonight.

All in all, I have really enjoyed the holidays this year. I LOVE my little family so so much. Even more than I have words to express. I can't wait to set some new goals, and work towards them this year. So here's to making 2012 the Best year EVER!!! Happy New Year, everyone :)