Handsome Boy!

Look at my handsome boy! Joe went home teaching and his partner couldn't go, so Justin was his partner. I couldn't resist pictures of him.

Pizza in a pot

I was putting lunch together in the crock pot, and I had a little helper. I kept trying to tell her to stay out of the sauce, and everytime I would turn my back she was eating sauce out of the pan. What can I say, this kid loves to eat.

Recipe books

The Elders in our ward have become like family to us. We have them over twice a month and we really enjoy the time that they spend here. They beg to come over to our house, which makes us feel good. We just love having them. Anyway here is my latest project. One of the Elders has been collecting recipes through out his mission and I had mentioned putting a book together for him. Well I couldn't do just one, so I did one for all four. I put together 26 recipes for each Elder. Do the math. LOL Anyway I gave the books to them today when they came over for dinner. One asked me if I had gone to culinary school, because I was such a good cook and knew a lot about food. I just had to laugh.

Foospiration July 23

Thought:

Corage dosen't always roar, sometimes it's the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow."



Recipe:

Cranberry-Pecan Crescent Sausage Wraps


1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
1 cup orange juice
1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls (8 rolls)
32 cocktail-size smoked link sausages (from 16-oz package)
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup chopped Pecans

Heat oven to 400°F. In small bowl, mix cranberries and orange juice. Let stand 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, separate dough into rectangles; press each into 8x4-inch rectangle. Cut each rectangle into 8 (about 2-inch) squares.
Place 1 sausage on each square; wrap dough around sausage. Pinch edges to seal. Place sausage rolls seam side down in 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown.
Meanwhile, drain orange juice from cranberries into 2-quart saucepan; reserve cranberries. Stir brown sugar into orange juice. Cook over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved.
Remove sausage rolls from oven. Pour orange juice mixture evenly over sausage rolls. Sprinkle with cranberries and pecans. Bake 10 to 13 minutes longer or until golden brown and bubbly. Serve warm.
Yum!

Scroll Down

I got the idea for this post from my friend Kim!
I am a little slow on my posts. I have been doing some back posting and trying to post them on the date they have been taking place. ( A week time period). Make sure that you are scrolling down the page so you won't miss out on what is happening with the Barrow bunch.

Thanks, Kim!

The things kids say.

The other night, Justin and I had to go meet my sister-in-law by the freeway, so that she could follow us to our house. Don't know if any of you saw the moon, but it was huge. Anyway Justin asked me where the sun was, and I said that it had gone to bed. Justin then asked, "Did he brush his teeth."

Last night we were watching the Food Network Channel, and they were doing a show called, "All wrapped up." In this show they were showing how companies made different things like, spring rolls, tortillas, sushi, tootsie rolls. Well Shaunee says, "Tootsie rolls are very healthy for you because they have milk and vegetable butter in them.

Rest in peace!

(Second attempt!)

Last year for Christmas I received this beautiful kitchen aid! Absolutely loved it. I would make bread in it about once a week. We have been counseled to have food storage and to have wheat on hand. We have a HUGE grinder that we have used to grind our wheat. At our house in Caldwell, we would store it in the garage. Whenever we needed to grind some wheat, we would just do it on the floor of the garage instead of trying to pack the thing in the house. The other day I was out of wheat flour, so I went out in the garage to grind some wheat so I could make some bread. I learned that there wasn't enough amps in the garage to run it, so it kept kicking the circuit breaker. Joe being the nice guy that he is ordered me a grinder attachment for the kitchen aid so that I could just grind it in the house. The attachment came and he decided to give it a try. After carefully reading the directions we learned that you could grind up to ten cups of wheat before you needed to let it cool. We didn't even get two cups ground, when it burnt up!!!!! A FYI.... the kitchen aid artisan style the gears are plastic and will over heat A LOT faster. Joe then lugs the HUGE grinder into the house and sets in on the counter. He proceeds to grind some wheat and has about 10 cups ground in 5 minutes........................

Rest in peace my friend!!!!!!

Bubbles!

It was bath night, and the kids had been begging to take a bath in our jetted tub. Of course they wanted bubbles.......See for yourself!

Nail Polish

Here lately Jade has been getting into our bathroom drawers when she is in our room watching Hairspray. She will get into one thing, and we will move it and then she finds something else to get into. Today I walked into my room to check on here and I could smell nail polish, Walked into the bathroom and sure enough. Jade says," Look I'm painting my toes." I guess I wasn't too upset, as I snapped pictures. Needless to say the outfit she had on was new and today was the first day she had worn it, and now it has nail polish on it.

Foospiration July 16

Thought:

"As soon as we attract enough attention in the world to play a part in it, we are set rolling like a ball which will never again be at rest." - Charles Joseph, Prince de Ligne

Recipe:
There is a little bit of a story behind this recipe. We have had the opportunity on many occasions since we have been here to have the missionaries in our home. We love having them, and they beg almost every week to come to our house. LOL Anyway, one of the missionaries has been collecting recipes from the different areas of his mission. He has asked if I would put a little book together for him with recipes he has collected, and this is one of them.

Oreo Surprise
1 pkg. (8oz) cream cheese, softened
½ cup powdered sugar
1 regular size cool whip
¼ cup milk
Mix all together

1 box Oreo pudding, mix according to pkg
directions

1 pkg Oreo cookies, crumbled ¼ reserved
1 reg. size cool whip

Put Oreos in bottom of a 9x13” pan. Top with cream cheese mixture. Top with pudding. Top with cool whip. Top with ¼ Oreos.

Blueberries

The other day I had the opportunity to go and pick blueberries. I went with a couple of older sisters from the ward and we drove to this blueberry orchard. You could pick blueberries for $6.00 a gallon. We started a little after nine and by eleven I didn't have quite a gallon. LOL It gives one a whole new appreciation for the bag of frozen blueberries that one can buy in the store. I then made blueberry jam, and it tasted pretty good on homemade bread.

Foospiration July 9th

Thought

"Sleep is the best meditation." - Dalai Lama

Recipe

Amish Rhubarb Jam


•5 c Rhubarb, diced
4 c Sugar
6 oz Jello, strawberry
•Mix rhubarb and sugar together and let stand overnight. In morning, cook mixture until rhubarb is soft. Remove from heat and stir in jello until it is dissolved. Jar and seal.

Enjoy! Make some for me, as we can't grow rhubarb here. it's too HOT. LOL

Frogs

Last night before we went to bed we opened our bedroom windows, as it was cooler outside than it was in the house. Well it had been storming earlier and after it storms all the frogs come out. We went to bed being serenaded by frogs and rain dripping off the roof. LOL

4th of July

Happy Fourth of July!!!!!!!!! Hope that everyone had a wonderful 4th and took some time to spend with family and friends as you reflected on our great country. We spent the day together as a family and went to dinner. Later that day we met up with some people from the ward and went to a lake to watch fireworks.

Relaxing in the heat

The kids earned a swimming pool, and couldn't wait to get water in it and go swimming. They had a lot of fun. "Grandpa, we want you to come play in our pool."

More dress up

Shaunee and Justin were playing pirates. They were too cute, I couldn't resist a picture.

Foospiration July 2, 2008

Thought:
"Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship." - Benjamin Franklin

Recipe:
Pepper Jack Enchiladas

•Prep Time:15 min
•Total Time:35 min

•1 lb. lean ground beef
•1 cup chopped onions (about 1 medium)
•2 cups enchilada sauce, divided (one can green sauce, one red)
•8 oz. Pepper Jack Cheese, grated
•12 corn tortillas (6 inch), softened

•PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Cook and stir meat and onions in large skillet on medium heat until meat is browned and onions are tender; drain. Return meat mixture to skillet. Add 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce; mix well.
•SPREAD 1/2 cup of the remaining enchilada sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish. Spoon 1/4 cup of the meat mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place, seam-sides down, in baking dish; top with the remaining 1 cup enchilada sauce and the cheese
•BAKE 20 min. or until enchiladas are heated through and cheese is melted.

One Friend

As many of you know we have been struggling with Justin to go to class at church on Sunday since he was going to nursery. Joe and I have been telling him that he needs to go to class so that he can meet and make some new friends. On Sunday I was out in the hall with Jade and he had came with me. We were sitting on the couch and he said that he didn't want to go to class. He said that he didn't need any new friends. That he already had one friend and that was enough. He said that Braden was his friend forever and that was enough for him. :)

Red Neck

Today we went to a real southern BBQ and total red neck. A member of our ward invited the ward to attend. They BBQ ed a pig and everyone was supposed to bring a side dish, or dessert and their lawn chairs. Well they used the trampoline as the table where everyone dished up their food. Everyone had their chairs scattered around in the trees, and around the trampoline. Off to the side they had the pig cooking. Now we can say we have experience total "Red Neck". Just had to share.

Dress Up

Shaunee and Jade have been playing a lot of dress up lately. It seems that as soon as Jade gets up she picks out a pair of dress up shoes and away she goes. She loves to clunk around the house in them. I am forever picking up dress up clothes, but it so fun to watch Jade and Shaunee play in them for hours. I need to find some more, so that they have more to choose from. On this day they invited Justin to play dress up with them.

Foospiration June 25, 2008

Thought:
The Lord gives us a spirit of hope and a feeling of comfort and confidence that we can overcome the obstacles we face. He has shown the way to gain strength during our struggles. With His assistance, we have the ability to succeed. Listen to His words of counsel and comfort: “Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world and none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.”
–L. Lionel Kendrick,

Recipe:
Seven Layer Tortilla Pie

•2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
•1 cup salsa, divided
•2 cloves garlic, minced
•2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
•1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
•1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
•7 (8 inch) flour tortillas
•2 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
•1 cup salsa
•1/2 cup sour cream
•DIRECTIONS
•Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
•In a large bowl, mash pinto beans. Stir in 3/4 cup salsa and garlic.
•In a separate bowl, mix together 1/4 cup salsa, cilantro, black beans and tomatoes.
•Place 1 tortilla in a pie plate or tart dish. Spread 3/4 cup pinto bean mixture over tortilla to within 1/2 inch of edge. Top with 1/4 cup cheese, and cover with another tortilla. Spread with 2/3 cup black bean mixture, and top with 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layering twice. Cover with remaining tortilla, and spread with remaining pinto bean mixture and cheese. Cover with foil, and bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes. Cut into wedges, and serve with salsa and sour cream.

Guitar Hero!

Yesterday morning we had the missionaries over for breakfast. It was their P-Day so they didn't have anywhere that had to be other than the library. Ever since the missionaries came and helped us unload our moving truck, Justin has been begging for them to come eat with us.

Anyway after they ate, we starting playing guitar hero and had a lot of fun. Elder Jensen, Elder Oomrigar and Elder Sabastain. Pictures to come

.

"Bo Bos"

For the last couple of days Jade as been saying, "Bo bos", and we have been trying to figure out what it is that she wants. We would make suggestions as to what we thought she was saying and could not for the life of us figure it out. Well this morning she got up at 3:30 am Central Time and kept saying, "Bo bos" and I told her to show me what she wanted. Well low and behold......"Bo bos" means the movie "Hairspray" and she is trying to say, "Be Bops". Yes, at 3:30 am we watched "Hairspray" because I was too tired to fight with her.

For those of you who don't know, Jade loves music and is very opinionated about what she wants to listen to and if you are listening to something she doesn't like it, she will let you know. We think this is why she loves the movie "Hairspray" so much .

Frustration!

Well I am very frustrated! As many of you know, we now live in the sticks. Maybe not the sticks so to speak, but out in the country where if you blink you miss it, and so far out that they do not have cable TV or any high speed internet. We have been able to get high speed internet through a satellite, which is as slow as dial up pretty much. LOL Well because it is through a satellite you are only aloud a certain amount of mega bites a day and then your speed turns into slower than a turtle, and you can't do anything. You are afraid to do anything in fear that if you do, it might shut you down. It is very frustrating that here we spend so much money to have internet and then you are limited to what you can use. I just want to go home!!!!!! Sorry, just venting. LOL

My Girls

I woke up this morning and found Shaunee and Jade asleep like this on the couch. Too Sweet!

I Don't Wanna Grow Up, I Am A Cartoon Kid!

This is so hilarious, last night about midnight and all the kids were in bed, Joe and I are sitting on the couch watching cartoons and eating popcorn. It's pretty good, here we are in our 30s and we still LOVE to watch cartoons. We are cartoon lovers at our house! I can remember when Tegan, our first baby would be in the hospital, and we would always have cartoons on in her room. People would comment and we would say, "Yeah we don't get this station at home, so we have to watch it here."

Too funny! Had to share.

Nature!

There is such beauty to be found in nature. As we have entered a new part of the world from what we are accustomed to, we have had the opportunity to see new things. It isn't uncommon to meet at least one of these along our path as we are traveling to our various destinations.



Armadillo



Firefly or glow worm. We see these in the tall grass and near the trees at dusk.



Opossum




We see turtles on the side of the road a lot!


Luna moth and they are rare because they only live about one to two weeks as an adult. They are about 3 to 4 inches wide and 4 to 6 inches long. This one was the first actually documentation of a Luna month in Henderson County, TN.

Foospiration June 18th

THOUGHT:

"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." - Joseph Addison

RECIPE:

Peach Salsa

•6 cups peaches - diced
1 1/4 cups red onion - chopped
4 jalapeno pepper - chopped
*1 red pepper - chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro - loosely packed
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
3 cloves garlic - finely chopped
2 teaspoons cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
Simmer for 5 minutes.
•Pack into hot jars and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes (0-1000 ft.), 15 minutes (1001-6000 ft.), and 20 minutes (above 6000 ft.).

Lost a tooth!

For about a week Shaunee has had a loose tooth. As the week has gone by, the tooth has worked its way loose thanks to Shaunee. She has been so excited that she finally has a loose tooth. Well this afternoon she was complaining that it hurt, and so her dad tried all day to convince her to let him pull it. He kept bugging her, and wanted to pull it with plyers, and string, but Shaunee kept telling him no. Well finally she let me get it out as it was only hanging on my a thread. Now the wait for the Tooth Fairy.

Baptism

Yesterday we had the opportunity to attend a baptism of a young Hispanic gentleman. Joe has been working with the missionaries and translating for them. (One of the missionaries is from Middleton, ID and had brother Angell as his seminary teacher.) It was cool to watch the excitement in my children as they watched and asked questions. My heart was full of gratitude as I felt the Spirit and witnessed Shaunee and Justin feel the Spirit.

250 Staion Rd. Beech Bluff, TN 38313

We are finally together once again as a family. Here are the details of adventure.....

We left Tuesday June 3, 2008 from Brigham City, Utah. This was a sad moment for all of us, or maybe just me as I was the only one who cried as we said bye to Jana and Karla (Joe's sisters) and Aunt Lucile. Oh we can't forget the dogs.....Harley, Izzy and Beau. (Bella has been pouting since we left. Her buddies are gone!)

We drove about 650 miles that first day and ended up in Ogalala (sp), NE. Let me tell you by the time we got there, we were more than ready to get out. Jade and I rode with Joe's parents, and Justin and Shaunee rode with Joe in the moving truck. Joe's dad got Jade to say "Enough Daddy." Wasn't that the truth, we had had enough.

Wednesday June 4th 2008 we left Ogalala, NE and drove over 600 miles again and stayed in Kingdom City, MO. For all you David Cook fans.........we drove right by his home town of Blue Springs, MO. "Go Cookie"

While we were waiting for Joe and his dad to check into our hotel, Jade and I found a huge snapping turtle in the parking lot and went to check it out. ( Sorry no pictures) Jade was all excited and wasn't afraid of it at all.

Thursday June 5th 2008 we left Kingdom City, MO and drove around 320 miles to Beech Bluff, TN. Yea we made it!!!!!!!

Well here are some pictures of our house and property (2acres)


The front of our house.




Our property goes all the way to the trees.



The road to our house.









Okay, this is how much we love all of you!!!!!! The big satellite is so we can have internet to stay in touch with all of you as we literally live in the sticks. LOL


This is called Queen Ann's Lace. It is a weed that grows around here ......Very pretty for a weed.

It is very hot here, well I guess not really hot but with the humidity it feels hot. You go outside and within a short amount of time you are soaked. LOL We have had to take our food storage out of the garage and store it in our clothes closet and it gets over 90 degrees in the garage. Out here I guess they don't believe in pantries......How do us Mormon women survive with no pantry LOL. We turned a closet into a pantry, it's not as big as we would like, but it works.

We love and miss all of you! Please keep in touch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Foospiration June 13, 2008

Okay, I have been gone for a while as we have been making our way to Tennessee. More details to come on that note. :)

Thought:

“The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike.”
“This Is the Work of the Master,” Gordon B Hinckley Ensign, May 1995

Recipe:

Quiche Lorraine

•INGREDIENTS
•1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch single crust pie
•6 slices bacon
•1 onion, chopped
•3 eggs, beaten
•1 1/2 cups milk
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
•1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
•DIRECTIONS
•Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
•Line pastry with a double layer of aluminum foil. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 4 to 5 minutes more, or until crust is set. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
•Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Remove bacon from pan, crumble and set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon grease in skillet. Cook onion in reserved drippings until tender; drain and set aside.
•In a large bowl, mix together eggs, milk and salt. Stir in bacon and onion. In a separate bowl, toss cheese and flour together. Add cheese to egg mixture; stir well. Pour mixture into hot pastry shell.
•Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until knife inserted into center comes out clean. If necessary, cover edges of crust with foil to prevent burning. Let quiche cool for 10 minutes before serving.