Kickin my B-Hind!

I have really been a slacker about bloggin! I used to have so much fun updating friends and family about the life of the Barrow's, until I met our CRAPPY internet connection. I get so frustrated when I try to upload pictures and whatnot and it is so slow that it times out or I have gone over my limit in 24 hours and basically can't do anything for the next 24. I am really going to try and catch up.
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I know, its been a long time.

I know it has been a long time since I blogged. I have really missed it! With our internet connection, it is kind of a pain. Well I am at the hospital, so maybe I can catch up. I am sure that would make some of you happy. I have 7 months to catch up, so bare with me.

We are having a boy!

Today we found out we will be welcoming a little boy to our family.

Pay it forward

I am participating in the Pay it Forward exchange(thanks corinne this sounds like fun!) Keep in mind you have a whole YEAR to do this. So,here it is for those of you that would like to join me.

This is how it works: Pay It Forward Exchange is based on the concept of the movie "Pay it forward". I will send a hand made gift to the first three people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join the PIF exchange. All the gifts will be made and posted out 'sometime within the next year'. How exciting to not know when your surprise package will arrive! What you need to do in return, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. This Exchange is only open to those with active websites or blogs. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PROMISE TO POST THIS SAME 'PAY IT FORWARD' MESSAGE ONTO YOUR BLOG, WHICH MUST BE ACTIVE IN ORDER TO PLAY. YOU WILL PAY IT FORWARD TO THREE PEOPLE WHO COMMENT ON YOUR BLOG. I'd love for you to join me! Will you? Other comments are welcome, but only the first three will be my Pay It Forward recipients. Come and join me who doesn't love a gift or giving gifts???

Christmas Morning

On Christmas morning we woke up our kids. We were excited or what!!!! Santa brought Shaunee an ice cream maker. He brought Justin tractors, and Jade a monkey. A monkey for a monkey. Joe's Christmas present was Rock Band, and mine was AWESOME quilting frames.

Christmas Eve

The kids hanging out

Oh Christmas Trees!!!!!!!!!

Tonight we went to the gentleman's house that Joe works with. Every year at Christmas time he decks his house out with Christmas trees. There were 35 Christmas trees, and 10 trains. One tree was 7 1/2 ft tall and had over 5,500 lights. These trees were beautiful and you could tell that he took hours to decorate one tree. In one bathroom there was a frog tree and when you sat down on the toilet, there were frogs that would sing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas." In another bathroom there were Elvis trees. The pictures don't do justice, as all we had was a cell phone, but it gives you an idea. It was tons of fun.
M&M
Raggedy Ann and Andy
Train
Justin, Jade and Shaunee 7 1/2 ft tree

Foospiration Nov. 26

THought: "The heart of a fool is his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is his heart." - Benjamin Franklin

Recipe: Chicken, Bacon, and Green Chili Pizza
Pizza Dough (recipe below)
Chicken Breasts, cut into cubes
Roasted Green Chiles
Bacon
Alfredo Sauce
1 lb. shredded mozzarella cheese
Grated Parmesan cheese

Method
For Pizza dough: 3/4 cup lukewarm water 2 tbsp oil 2 cup flour 1/2 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp fast-rise yeast Cook the bacon until done but still chewy; tear into pieces. Lightly brown chicken breast pieces in skillet with leftover bacon grease, then turn down heat to low and place on lid to allow the chicken to finish cooking. When pizza dough is ready, roll out and place in pan. Next, place about 2-3 tbsp jarred alfredo sauce on dough, followed by a handful of cheese. Next, add the chicken, bacon and green chilies. Add the rest of the cheese and a few sprinkles of parmesan. Bake in a 425 degree oven for approximately 18 minutes.
 

Foospiration Nov. 19, 2008

Thought: "Nothing ever gets anywhere. The earth keeps turning round and gets nowhere. The moment is the only thing that counts." - Jean Cocteau


Recipe: Individual Chicken Pizzas
1 can refrigerated biscuits, uncooked
1 cup corn meal
1/4-1/2 cup vegetable cream cheese
2 cups frozen chopped broccoli
1/4 cup diced tomato
5 oz can chunk chicken breast in water
Dried oregano, optional
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Method
Preheat oven per biscuit can directions. Sprinkle countertop with corn meal. Roll each individual biscuit out to approximately 3-4 inches round on top of corn meal, but do not flip over. Place each rolled biscuit on a large baking sheet and cook per package directions. Set oven to 400 degrees. Allow biscuits to cool slightly. Top each biscuit with cream cheese, chopped broccoli, tomato, and chicken. If desired, sprinkle with dried oregano to taste. Cover each biscuit with mozzarella cheese. Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese has melted.

Foospiration Nov. 12, 08

Thought: "Americans never quit." - Douglas MacArthur

Recipe: Layered Pumpkin Loaf
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup  plus 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar, divided
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4   egg whites, divided
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1/4 cup  canola oil
2 cups flour
2-1/2 tsp.  CALUMET Baking Powder
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp.  salt
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, 1/3 Less Fat than Cream Cheese, softened
PREHEAT oven to 350ºF. Grease a nonstick 9x5-inch loaf pan; set aside. Mix pumpkin, 1 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, 3 of the egg whites, milk and oil in large bowl. Add flour, baking powder, pie spice and salt; stir just until moistened. Set aside. Beat Neufchatel cheese, remaining 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar and the remaining egg white with wire whisk until well blended.
SPOON half of the pumpkin batter into prepared pan; spoon Neufchatel cheese mixture evenly over the batter. Cover with remaining pumpkin batter.
BAKE 1 hour to 1 hour 5 min. or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Run knife or thin spatula around edges of pan to loosen bread; cool in pan on wire rack 10 min. Remove bread from pan to wire rack; cool completely.

tagged

Rules: Copy and paste questions. One word answers only. Tag other people.


1.Where is your cell phone? pocket
2.Where is your significant other? work
3.Your hair color? brown
4.Your mother? (adopted Mom)awesome
5.Your father? (Adopted Dad) lovable
6.Your favorite thing? Chocolate
7.Your dream last night? gone
8.Your dream/goal? Happiness
9.The room you’re in? Front
10.Your hobby? crafts
11.Your fear? alone
12.Where do you want to be in 6 years? happy
13.Where were you last night? home
14.What you’re not? smart
15.One of your wish list items? pans
16.Where you grew up? Albion
17.The last thing you did? read
18.What are you wearing? clothes
19.Your t.v.? on
20.Your pet? Dog
21.Your computer? HP
22.Your mood? depressed
23.Missing someone? several
24.Your car? van
25.Something you’re not wearing? shorts
26.Favorite store? scrapbook
27.Your summer? gone
28.Love someone? Joe
29.Favorite color? green
30.Last time you laughed? yesterday
31.Last time you cried? yesterday

I tag Amy, Kim, Steph and Gina

Foospiration Nov. 5, 2008

Thought:
"Flowers grow out of dark moments." - Corita Kent

Recipe:
Idaho Spuds
3 ½ 8 oz Hershey bars
16 oz. cool whip at room temperature
½ c. nuts
½ c coconut
Melt chocolate, fold in cool whip and nuts. Drop by spoonfuls into coconut and roll. Set on pan. Can be refrigerated

MMMMMMMM I real Idaho Spud Bar sounds SOOOO good. HINT HINT:)

Foospiration Oct. 29, 2008

Thought:
"If it were not for hopes, the heart would break." - Thomas Fuller

Recipe:
Grilled Indian Chicken

This is an Indian dish. If it is marinated for as long as    2 to 3 hours it will be tastier. Prep Time: approx. 1    Hour 20 Minutes. Cook Time: approx. 20 Minutes. Ready in:    approx. 1 Hour 40 Minutes. Makes 6 servings.    
1 teaspoon ground ginger2 tablespoons crushed garlic2 teaspoons ground turmeric1/4 cup yogurt1 (3 pound) whole chicken,    cut into piecesDirections1 In a large bowl, combine ginger, garlic, turmeric,    salt, and yogurt.2 Marinate the chicken pieces in the mixture for 3 hours.3 Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and    lightly oil grate. Grill chicken until juices run clear.

Halloween 2008

Okay so I am cheap! I didn't want to spend a ton of money on a costume that would only be worn once. Therefore I made the kids' costumes. Shaunee was Sponge Bob Square Pants, and Justin and Jade were robots. Our ward had a pizza party, pumpkin carving contest and trunk or treat. Joe's pumpkin's won 1st and 2nd place.

Pumpkin Carving

These are the pumpkins that Joe carved. They won 1st and 2nd place at the ward halloween party!

The Pumpkin Patch

Tonight we went to the pumpkin patch. I don't know if you would really call this a pumpkin patch, but they millions of punkins to choose from. The kids got a kick out of Mr. and Mrs. Pumpkin. The kids had a good time. We got there kind of late, so we had to hurry and pick them out.

Foospiration Oct 22,

Thought: "Practice is the best of all instructors." - Publilius Syrus

Recipe: Turkey Bean Chili
Serves 8 | Prep time: 30 minutes | Total time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
4 strips bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 pounds ground dark-meat (7% fat) turkey
4 cups chopped onions
1/4 cup minced garlic clove
2 medium fresh jalapeño chilies (ribs and seeds removed for less heat, if desired), minced
3 tablespoons chili powder
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
4 teaspoons ground cumin
2 cans (28 ounces each) whole tomatoes in purée
2 tablespoons unsulfured molasses
Coarse Salt
3 cans (15.5 ounces each) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
Assorted toppings, such as cheddar cheese, pickled sliced jalapeño chilies, reduced-fat sour cream, and fresh cilantro leaves
Heat a Dutch-oven (or other heavy 5-quart pot) over medium heat. Add bacon; cook until crisp brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Raise heat to high; add turkey. Cook, stirring and breaking up meat with a spoon, until no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes.
Add onion, garlic, and jalapeno; cook until soft, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir in chili powder, cocoa powder, and cumin; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute.
Break up tomatoes with a spoon or your hands, and stir them in along with the puree. Add molasses, 1 cup water, and 4 teaspoons salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; cook, partially covered, 30 minutes.
Add beans; continue cooking, uncovered, until meat and beans are very tender, and chili is thick, about 30 minutes more. Serve with toppings.

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Happy Birthday Corinne!

Today is Corinne's Birthday!!!!! Happy Birthday Corinne. We love and miss you tons! Wish we were there to celebrate with you.

Foospiration Oct. 15

Thought: "I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure - which is: Try to please everybody." - Herbert B. Swope

Recipe:
Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup
1 lb medium cheddar cheese, shredded 2 T corn starch
2 c water ¼ tsp pepper
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce Dash garlic powder
8 T butter (1/2 cup) ¾ c diced, cooked cauliflower
1 c sliced mushrooms ½ c finely chopped onion
¾ c diced ham
2 c half and half or evaporated milk, undiluted
Directions:
Mix corn starch with cheese. Heat water to boiling in 6 quart saucepan. Add cheese mixture to boiling water a little at a time stirring constantly. Continue to cook over medium heat stirring constantly until cheese is melted and mixture is smooth. Add salt and pepper, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder. Sauté each vegetable separately in two tablespoons butter each until tender. Add to soup along with the ham. Heat, stirring constantly, adding half and half until desired thickness is reached.

Foospitation Oct 8, 2008

Thought: You get what you get and you don't throw a fit! Emma Tucker

Recipe: Cranberry and Apple Stuffed Pork Chops
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1 large granny smith apple, peeled cored and diced
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup dried cranberries
salt and pepper
2 (6 ounce)  pork chops
1 tablespoon olive oil
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion and apple; cook and stir for 5 minutes. Stir in the cranberries and balsamic vinegar and continue cooking until the apple and onions have softened, about 5 minutes more. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove to plate and let cool.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.(175 degrees C.) Lightly grease a small baking dish.
Cut a large pocket into the pork chops using a sharp , thin bladed knife.Stuff the cooled apple mixture into the pork chops and secure with toothpicks if needed. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over med- high heat. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper to taste, and place in the hot skillet. Cook on each side until browned, about 3 minutes, then transfer to a baking dish. Top with remaining apple mixture, and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake in preheated oven until the pork is no longer pink in the center,about 40 minutes depending on the thickness of the pork chops. Uncover and bake about 10 minutes longer until the apple mixture has lightly browned around the edges.

Foospiration Oct.1, 2008

Thought:
BE HAPPY!
BE STRONG!
HAVE FAITH!

Recipe:
(Cindy Tuck)
For you Tuckie!!!!!!
Chicken Alfredo Colorado Style

Cut up 12 to 15 Chicken tenders into bite size pieces
2 cloves of fresh garlic chopped
and sauté in a little olive oil

When it's cooked season with Lemon Pepper and a little salt
add;
1 can diced green chilies
1 bottle of 4 Brothers Garlic Alfredo sauce

Boil 1 lb box of fettuccini noodles, drain, and pour sauce over mix all together.
Serve with Salad and garlic bread... enjoy!

Kids can sleep any where, any way!

Justin put this little chair on the couch. He ended up falling a sleep, and this is how he ended up. Later he fell on the floor! Silly kid!!

Did the job herself!!!!!!!

This is one thing that I was hoping that would never happen. I did it several times as a young girl. We have been really careful not to leave scissors around, in case they were to fall into little hands. Well I keep my sewing stuff in my bedroom closet, and Jade found them. Joe found her in there with the scissors in hand and a pile of hair beside her. I guess she got tired of her hair being in her eyes, so she did it herself. As you know with Jade, we have been having issues with her hair. We have had a difficult time keeping her hair out of her eyes. Well for the time being, we won't have to worry.

Foospiration Sept. 24, 2008

Thought:
"You women, be good women, be good mothers. Be kind and gracious and generous. Strengthen your children with your faith and your testimony. Lift them up. Help them to walk through the troubled ways of the world as they grow in this very difficult age. Support, sustain, uphold, and bless your husbands with your love and your encouragement; and the Lord will bless you. Even if they are not members of the Church, bless them with kindness and reach out to them every good way that you can. The chances are that they will become members of the Church before they reach the time they die. It may be a long time and you may have a lot to put up with, but if that happens, you will think it is all worth it" President Gordon B. Hinckley

Recipe:
Spicy Pumpkin Soup

2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Large onion, chopped
2 Tbsp minced fresh ginger
1 small jalapeno chili, seeded and finely chopped
3 garlic gloves, minced
1 tsp. lime rest
1 15 oz can pumpkin puree
1 13.5 oz can light coconut milk, shaken
4 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth
salt
In a pan, warm oil over med. low heat. Saute onion and ginger until soft, 8 minutes. Do not let brown. Add jalapeno and garlic; cook for 3 minutes, stirring often. Stir in lime zest, pumpkin, coconut milk, and broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt. Remove from heat, let cool slightly,then puree in a blender. Serve hot with bread sticks.

Monkeying around

The kids decided that they wanted to climb the pole at DQ.

Tuck

Yes, this another missionary entry!!!!! We love the missionaries so much. They have become a huge part of our lives and family. They even call me the Jackson Mission Mom. It is hard not to get attached to these BOYS. We have heard from several people in the ward that think that I am a great cook, and want to come hang out at our house all the time. Also several people have commented that not very often do they go for seconds. When they come here, very seldom do we have any left over, and I make double of what I usually cook.
There is one missionary that has become extra special to us. His name is Elder Tuck and he is from CO. He has only been here for 6 weeks and we have become really close. The kids just love him and the little ones are his growth. If it weren't illegal, they would be in his arms all the time. We love you Tuck!!!!!!! Well six very short weeks have come and gone and tomorrow is transfers. Tuck is going to be transferred to Little Rock. We will miss him, but forever in our hearts he will stay. Tonight we went to DQ and some of these pictures were taken there.


Elder Tuck and Elder Palmer

I have been tagged!

The Rules:

-- Link the person(s) who tagged you.
-- Mention the rules on your blog.
-- Fill in your own info.
-- Tag fellow bloggers.
-- Visit their blogs to see their info!

The Info:



A is for your age: 31 years old
B is for burger of choice: anything but McDonalds!
C is for the car you drive: 1996 Chevy Venture
D is for your dog's name: Bella
E is for essential item you use every day: Toilet LOL
F is for favorite TV show at the moment:I'm not really watching anything right now
G is for favorite game: Eye to eye
H is for home state: Idaho
I is for instruments you play: once upon a time I played the Clarinet
J is for favorite juice: Orange
K is for whose bum you'd like to kick: myself
L is for last restaurant at which you ate: Snappy Tomato Pizza
M is for your favorite Muppet: Kermit
N is for number of piercings: 1 set,
O is for overnight hospital stays: all of my kids' births.
P is for people you were with today: Jade and Justin
Q is for what you do with your quiet time: Blog, Read, Sleep
R is for biggest regret: Mistakes
S is for status: Happily married for 12 years
T is for time you woke up today: 6:00am
U is for what you consider unique about yourself: I can get along with almost everyone!
V is for vegetable you love: sliced tomatoes
W is for worst habit: over extending myself
X is for x-rays you've had: other than the typical ones when you go to a new chiropractor, dentist x rays, and chest x rays
Y is for yummy food you ate today: Cheese, egg, and bacon
Z is for zodiac: Leo

I Tag, Breeca, Corinne, Cory and Gina, Jeni, Diana

Foospiration Sept. 17th

Thought:
"Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense." - Winston Churchill

Recipe:
Rocky Road Bars
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk (low fat is fine)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
1 cup chocolate chips (dark or semisweet)
1 cup miniature marshmallows
Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-inch square pan with greased aluminum foil (place foil, then grease with butter or cooking spray).In a medium saucepan, melt butter and cocoa together, stirring with a whisk to eliminate lumps. Remove from heat when mixture is smooth, then stir in sugar, egg, flour, salt, milk and vanilla extract until well-blended.Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes.Remove pan from oven and top with pecans, chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. Return to oven and bake for 5-7 additional minutes, until marshmallows puff and chocolate chips appear to melt slightly.Cool on a wire rack before slicing (with a damp or lightly greased knife) into 16 bars.Bars can be stored at room temperature or in the fridge.
Makes 16.

It is official!

It is official! I am officially a resident of TN. I had to get a new driver's licence, and now I have a TN one. It is much cheaper to get your driver's licence renewed here. They cost $16 for four years.