Yummy Artichoke Something or Rathers

In November I went down to Provo and spent some time with family and my dear friend Kerry. We went to a Super Saturday and they had these wonderful, super yummy appetizers. I made some yesterday and had planned on taking a picture of them to post. They are so delicious though that before I remembered to take a pic. They were gone. Here is the recipe for those who enjoyed them with us and those who might need a really good recipe for appetizers.

p.s. you can use homemade french bread. I used the artichokes in water, not the marinated ones.


Artichoke Recipe

- 1 tube fridge french bread - Pillsbury, etc.
- 1 can water packed artichokes hearts (or marinated ones in jar)- rinsed, drained, chopped - [when in can (in water) don't have same flavor as the ones marinated in a jar]
- 1/2 c. seasoned bread crumbs
- 1/3 c. grated parmesan (or italian blend - if you use marinated hearts)
- 1/3 c. mayo
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 c. Italian blend cheese


Bake loaf and let cool, cut length wise and place on un-greased baking sheet, while cooling. Mix everything but 1 c. cheese in small bowl, and then pile on the loaf both sides, cover with cheese bake at 350 for another 15-20 min. or until cheese is melted. Slice and serve warm.

Enjoy!

it's official

It's official, lydia is part of the family. I finished making her stocking yesterday. I would post a picture but I still can't find our camera, and our back up camera has a full memory card and we can't get it to download pics. Hopefully we will get this all worked out before Christmas!

Our First Fatality

We had our first fatality this morning. The ornament was found at approximately 9:15am this morning December 8, 2009. It appeared to have had something thrown at it. description of the body: about 3.5 inches in diameter with silver, purple, and green stripes. At the time it was found it was in 5 pieces. the top half still attached to the tree hanging by its string. there were 3 small pieces on a branch below the top and another small piece on the tree skirt. It lasted 3 whole days on the tree before it was inhumanely destroyed at the hands of a 2 year old who will remain unnamed as he is still a minor.

I just hope it will be the last fatality of this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas!

One Year Ago Today

A year ago today we woke up to the most beautiful frost outside. I was pregnant with Lydia. My Dr. took me off of modified bedrest. I thought the rest of my pregnancy would turn out great. Little did I know...

As I reflect on the year I am grateful that we all made it through. I am grateful for my precious baby girl who is growing so fast and is so healthy and strong. I am grateful for Gabe even if he is often my challenge in life. As challenging as he is, he is also my joy and brings me so much laughter. I am grateful for Jon and all that he does for me and our little family. He is a wonderful husband and great daddy. Our kids both love him so much. As I type this Jon is off playing football and Gabe was so excited that he got to go with his Daddy. How grateful I am for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful to have a little brother out serving the Lord on a mission. We are also very excited that he will be home in about 10 weeks on Feb. 10th. Grateful for our home and a steady income. Grateful for our 2 wonderful families who love and support us. I could keep typing all day! How truly blessed we are! HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

This post is for Kerry

Kerry Jane Perry, what is there to say? You still have not posted that yummy recipe for the artichoke garlic chicken appetizers. I want to make some so bad! I dream of their deliciousness and hope to someday be able to make some of my own. Please get me that recipe. I will love you forever!

for a reason

Yesterday I got a few little Thanksgiving decorations to put in my front entryway. While I was doing some chores Gabe was playing. I went into the dining room to find the decorations on the table. I put them back in the entryway. When Gabe saw them he picked them up and said, "I put those there for a reason MOMMY!" What an attitude that little boy has!

Cold Noodles

In the last few months Gabe has developed a thing for cold, yes, COLD noodles. I thought that it was just a phase at first that would wear off. I was right. It did wear off for awhile but now it is back.

He is all about cold noodles. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, COLD NOODLES!

The beginning of October we went to Las Vegas for a cousin's wedding. On the way down we stopped for lunch at a Subway. Gabe went right up to the counter and asked if they had cold noodles. The cashier looked at him funny and told him that they did not and tried to steer him the direction of the soup that has noodles in it. That night we went to Olive Garden for dinner. When we told him that he could probably get some cold noodles he looked at us and laughed.

"They don't have cold noodles here! You are so silly!" then he laughed some more. Much to his surprise the waiter brought him out some cold noodles. He ate them all and was thrilled.


So, is it bad if all my child eats is cold noodles?

TrIcK oR TrEaT

We went to visit family so everyone could see our little frogs all dressed up. Aunt Chelsea took us around to her neighbors. Her dog Stella was dressed up as a lion. We put the leash on Gabe. I am not sure who was walking who.

Our Little Frog Prince and Princess

more Pumpkins

The funniest 10 Step Program Ever

I read this on a blog this morning and could not stop laughing! So funny! The blog is www.joyshope.com Lesson 1 isn't as funny as the rest of it so keep reading!

Thinking of Having Kids?
Do This 10 Step Program First
Lesson 1
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline
2. Lack of patience
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels
4. Allowing their children to run wild
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.
Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.
Lesson 2
A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5pm to 10pm carrying a wet bag weighing approx. 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly.
2. At 10pm, put the bag down gently, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at midnight and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1am.
4. Set alarm for 3am.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2am and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45.
7. Get up at 3am when alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4am.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive.)
Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.
Lesson 3
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?
Lesson 4
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus in the bag so that none of the arms hang out.
Time allowed for this- all morning.
Lesson 5
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle Cheerios all over the floor, them smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
Lesson 6
Go to the grocery store. Take the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goats eat or destroy. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
Lesson 7
1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.
You are now ready to feed a 9 month-old baby.
Lesson 8
Learn the names of every character from all shows on PBS, the Disney Channel and Noggin. Watch nothing else on TV but shows from these channels for at least 5 years. (I know, you're thinking "what is Noggin?") Exactly the point.
Lesson 9
Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
Lesson 10
Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from lesson 9 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

9 months old

Lydia is now 9 months old and she finally cut her first tooth. we weighed her on the scale yesterday and she was 18 lbs. In the last week she figured out how to get up the stairs. She is growing so fast!

Once again, here we go again, crossing our fingers!

So this morning gabe woke up and as I was getting him dressed he said he wanted to wear underwear. I asked if he was sure and he said yes. I told him that he had to keep them dry all day. He said ok.

It is now 3pm and he has been dry up to this point! I am crossing my fingers that we will be done with diapers for him soon. Wish us luck. This is our 2nd or 3rd try at potty training but I think this time it might just stick! :)

Pictures

In the 2nd picture Gabe had put his pants on backwards.

Just some pictures

The Ferris Wheel

Of course while at the fair we made it to the Ferris Wheel. Gabe loved it!

At the Fair

So I know that the fair was over a month ago but I am a little behind. The top picture was taken about 10 mins. before Gabe got lost. We were all sitting eating dinner. When we finished we picked up our trash and in a matter or seconds Gabe had disappeared. Now we see him now we don't. We looked around for a few minutes and couldn't find him. Panic was setting in for me and I didn't know where to look or what to do. Jon found a police officer. We split up and all started looking. (We were there with Jon's family.) I wandered around for a little while with no idea where to look. Then I thought to say a prayer. When I finished, the first thought that came to my mind was, the ferris wheel. I walked toward the closest Ferris Wheel and there were two police officers trying to get him to come with them. Apparently he was trying to get on the ride. All he wanted was to ride on the ferris wheel. I was crying and so glad that we found him! that was the first time that he has ever been lost. I hope it never happens again!

At the petting zoo area the only animal that he would touch were the pigs. Grandpa Doug made sure that all his grandkids got a turn to ride the ponies. They all loved it.

Our Toy Monster

This is our toy monster. When toys are left out, or, used improperly (thrown at Lydia, used as weapons of mass destruction etc.) he eats them. The End.

Lydia's First Pancake

Pancakes! SOOO Yummy! I think she liked them!