Picture Challenge, Brad Paisley & more photos!

So, my sister's challenge was 10 pictures per day, every day for the entire month of February.  Here are today's pictures (I'm not done with all 10 so I'll have to come back & add more later).

Sam checked out this book from the school library.  It's an Usborne Books Fifty fun things to make & do.  She has been dying to make these cookies.  She was hoping Uncle Zack was coming over today so she could make them with him (he loves octopuses).  Unfortunately, no such luck.  So, since we're about out of time tonight, we'll have to make them tomorrow.

I stopped at Kitchen Kneads tonight & let Sam choose a birthday cake pan.  This is what she has decided to go with this year (since mom's lame & can't make a cake with all the faces of the boys from BTR on it)!  She also wants a stand up barbie cake too since this one is small.

You know, I'm thinking this was extra helpful when I was very, very pregnant.  Now days, not really so much....at least he had fun, right?

I blame her sister for teaching her how to pull herself up to things!

These were in January:

Baby sister is not going to be the favorite for much longer.  Not only does she scoot around way too well, she likes to be front, center & smack dab in the middle of things now days too!

This little stinker is pulling herself up to things lately.  I'm afraid she's going to stand up & run off one day not too long from now!

Sister thought it was hilarious that she had a pull up on her head & we were all laughing.

This is the first time Sam helped her stand up.  Great!  Thanks big sister!  Now she's never going to stop!

One of sister's new favorite places to play.  I baby gate across the hallway & she just sits here by the railing waiting for someone to pop up, surprise her & play with her to her little heart's content!

My boys in their matching monster hats!

 And now, (finally) pictures from the concert!  Brad Paisley was the head liner & he brought Scotty McCreery & The Band Perry with him.  We are now both Scotty fans & The Band Perry did better than I had anticipated.  I think I might need their cd now too since I know they sing more than the 2 songs they repeatedly play on the radio!

I took this picture like 6 times because Travis kept closing his eyes!

 These are The Band Perry

 These are Mr. Brad Paisley himself.  The special effects were simply amazing!  The light show was way better than I've paid to see at the Planetarium (I'd hope so for $60 seats).  We both got new shirts & Trav bought an autographed copy of his book "Diary of a Player".  We also got Sam a shirt & are saving it for her birthday.  I think she'll be thrilled about that.

Crock Pot Recipe Day 16

Southwestern chicken

From Fix It & Forget It Big Cookbook

Page 387

Makes 6 servings

Prep time 5 minutes

Cooking time 3-8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size 6 qt

2 15 1/4 oz cans corn, drained

15 oz can black beans, rinsed & drained

16 oz jar chunky salsa, divided

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 c. lowfat shredded cheddar cheese

1. Combine corn, black beans, and 1/2 c. salsa in slow cooker.

2. Top with chicken.  Pour remianing salsa over chicken.

3. Cover.  Coo on high 3-4 hours or on low 708 hours.

4. Sprinkle with cheese.  Cover 5 minutes for cheese to melt.

I only had 1/2 c. salsa so, thinking I knew better (ha!) I used 2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes.  I also only used about 4 ckn breasts because I didn't want to stack them in my slow cooker.  Other than that, I left everything the same.  I think if I had only used 1 can of the diced tomatoes it would have gone better.  It was ok, I thought the chicken was really good.  Everything else was just too tomatoey.  Stick to the recipe on this one & you'll be better off!

My sister's challenge

So, my sister FINALLY updated her blog ;).  She has challenged anyone to take at least 10 pictures a day, every day, for the ENTIRE month of February.  I have accepted her challenge.  I have really started slacking at picture taking.  My sister said she'd post all the pictures she takes, so I will do the same.  We will see if there are any good ones, or, as she said, "they are all crap."  If they turn out I suppose I'll have to delete some of the 5,000 pictures (seriously) on my new digital picture frame & swap in some new ones!

We had the Relay for Life kickoff event tonight.  I was impressed at how many people were there.  I had heard it advertised on the radio all week, so I figured there would be a decent turn out.  Turns out, we raised just over $6,000 tonight.  Yea, that's right, SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS - in ONE night!  It was a lot of fun.  It was a Dancing with the Stars spin-off and they intend to continue it each year.  I'd say if we did that good the first time, it's sure to become even bigger each year.  Yes, I did register my team.  So, if you want to join me in my insanity on July 13-14 out at Elk Ridge Park in North Logan, click the link I have on the left hand side of my blog & SIGN UP BABY!  Did I mention they made me CHAIR of the sponsorship committee this year?  My mom asked me why the heck I would agree to such a thing.  Surely I must be crazy.  (Like that's ever been a question!)  I told her this, "I figure, I'm going to eventually get cancer.  My participating in Relay, in any and all forms, is my way of "paying if forward" so when I do get it, hopefully there's something better than they've got now!"  Mom's response?  "Well, I guess that's one way to look at it!"  Just made me smile.

I did try another new recipe the other night that I still need to post.  And, yes, I have uploaded all my BP concert pictures, I just haven't blogged them yet!  Perhaps tomorrow I will get it done since I don't have to work!

Unfortunately, it continues...sort of...

First of all, I must publicly state I'm impressed that my husband not only FOUND my blog, but READ it & then PROCEEDED to COMMENT on it!  Good job honey!  Not even any coercing on my part.

UNFORTUNATELY this morning Sam woke up complaining that her eyes were still hurting.  Since she had a slight (99) fever last night, I figured I'd better take her to the dr to make sure it wasn't pink eye.  Because we all know that if I didn't take her in, it would in fact turn out to be a horrific case of pink eye.  And, lets be honest, I'm still surprised it's not!

FORTUNATELY, I was able to drop Nash at school & Caleb at preschool.  I stopped at the chiropractor so Sam could get adjusted for the pounding headache she had.  What can I say?  UNFORTUNATELY, I'm a sucker on that one because I know how bad pounding headaches are.

Then, we ventured over to the pediatrician's office.  FORTUNATELY, it is just a sinus infection & she was feeling the pressure in her eyes & her head (hence the headache).  So, we got a rx and headed to Shopko.  While I was waiting for the rx to get filled, I ventured over & we picked out Valentine's Day cards for the kids (put that on tomorrow's to do list!).

FORTUNATELY, I made it back to pick Caleb up from preschool just in the nick of time.  Dropped Caleb & Brooke off at day care & headed over to Sam's school (I worked there today).  Had enough time to get my laminating done & get my prep done for my new first graders I had come today.  I was even able to carry all my stuff back out to the truck by myself!

FORTUNATELY, my mom was kind enough to keep the boys while I took Sam to dance.  Brooke slept so, UNFORTUNATELY, instead of cutting out all my laminating like I should have, I sat and read my current book The Help.  What can I say?  I'm seriously loving that book & I'm dying to see the movie!

After dance I put some fuel in dad's truck & picked up the boys.  Dad followed me home & got his truck from me.  FORTUNATELY, yes, my keys to the Expedition did arrive safely today.  (And fortunately for my husband, I can't travel to Rock Springs to kill him for taking them until Friday at the earliest.)  

Even though I made a new crock pot dinner recipe last night, it wasn't done in time for us to eat at a decent hour.  So, I put it in the fridge thinking, "I'll just warm it up tomorrow & it will be perfect."  Well, since I got paid today & had a hankering for pizza, I called the pizza man instead!  Tomorrow we shall eat what I made yesterday! :)

Now, if I could just get Nash to figure out what he wants to do for his 100 day 100 collection, I'd be set!

Fortunately, Unfortunately

I have to steal this from my cousin because, well, I loved it.  Plus, who doesn't need to hear such things?


“Give your child a compliment and a hug; say, ‘I love you’ more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of ‘what if’ and ‘if only.’ … “Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey and share our love with friends and family. One day, each of us will run out of tomorrows. Let us not put off what is most important.” -President Thomas S. Monson


On to the purpose of tonight's blog.  Have you ever heard the Fortunately, Unfortunately stories?  Well, if not, prepare to laugh at my expense because I'm going to tell you one.  Yes, UNFORTUNATELY, it IS based on real life events...Mine...Today.


UNFORTUNATELY B woke up at 4 am.  FORTUNATELY that is about 6 times less in one night than she has been doing since Thursday.


UNFORTUNATELY Sam woke up with a belly ache this morning (eating a lb of grapes will do that to a child, but what do I know?  I'm just the mother.) & an eye that hurt.  FORTUNATELY her eye was & is not pink or boogery.


UNFORTUNATELY Sam decided she was needing to stay home from school today.  FORTUNATELY about 10 minutes before I walked out of the house, she decided that she was miraculously well enough to attend school.


UNFORTUNATELY I couldn't find the keys to the Expedition.  FORTUNATELY I found them.  UNFORTUNATELY they are in Rock Springs with my husband.  FORTUNATELY my dad wasn't working today & rescued me.

UNFORTUNATELY my dad needs his truck back Wednesday.  FORTUNATELY Travis overnighted my keys to me & I should have them by the end of the day tomorrow.  UNFORTUNATELY this means I need to break down & go get a spare key made.  Why haven't we before now?  It's a chipped key & costs about $80-$100.  FORTUNATELY Travis gets paid on Friday. 


UNFORTUNATELY I had to rearrange the classroom I'm in on Monday's so my students could do their research project presentations.  FORTUNATELY I made it to work with enough time to do so.


UNFORTUNATELY I had 3 kids that were not ready to present today.  FORTUNATELY the other 33 kids did.  UNFORTUNATELY we had technical difficulties all day long.  FORTUNATELY one of my fifth graders came to my rescue & we were able to work all the kinks out....eventually.


UNFORTUNATELY I was late leaving the school because I had to put the room I was in back together.  FORTUNATELY Laura, my day care person, loves me enough that she lets my big kids walk to her house after school when I can't get my butt there on time to get them.


UNFORTUNATELY I'm getting a migraine.  FORTUNATELY the kids had piano today & not dance.  UNFORTUNATELY they are still being quite loud.  FORTUNATELY I can send them downstairs to play.  


UNFORTUNATELY I didn't get dinner in the crock pot until 5:45 pm.  FORTUNATELY my crock pot is a super crock pot & dinner should still only take about 2 hours to do.  UNFORTUNATELY if they don't like it, I've already promised to make Ramen!


FORTUNATELY I survived today.  UNFORTUNATELY when my mom said "Hopefully tomorrow will be better."  I made the mistake of saying, "It can't possibly be any worse than today was!"