the z-word that cannot be named

okay, it's a zit. is there any reason for them, really? besides make teenagers less attractive to each other but why now? why me? that did not make my list of 10+ for last week. but, here are some things that did...

1. bleach
2. soy formula for peapod's stomach
3. non-stop flights to mexico city for mr. allgood
4. adorable pillows for my couch from target
5. frozen chicken nuggets for the kids when i don't feel like really cooking
6. skype video chat - get the magic here!
7. rebs bedtime prayers
8. dee's heart to hearts with me about her friends
9. mj's theater class- she loves it!
10. cashiers who are helpful
11. nice neighbors who leave cards on my door
12. the grocery cart cover for peapod to sit in (yes i said would never get one because they look so lame. well i have decided i have 4 kids, i don't have to worry about looking lame anymore. i drive a minivan that seats up to 8 people, i currently have 5 strollers in my garage, i own 3 highchairs, i have 5 cans of formula in my pantry along with 12 partial baby bottles. over half of the socks in my drawer have holes. to top it off, i play scrabble on sunday night with my husband for fun.) to the developed world, i am confidently as dorky as they come. right on.

dinner time is a happy happy time!

I haven't been posting photos for the last couple of weeks because I have been using a computer from Jared's work and haven't been able to download photos onto it. I don't know why, one of his employees may really enjoy seeing our family pictures. Sheesh! Anyhow, we have been enjoying some good recipes lately from ourbestbites.com

Here are a few photos of the kids and the meals!

Honey Chicken- (AMAZING!)Indian Pork Skewers with Coconut Rice

Jared making guacamole says, "why is the sprinkler thingy off of the garlic salt- I almost had a big problem"
Kim replies, "I took it off, we don't really need it on there, get over it"
Five minutes later when I making the filling for the creamy chicken taquitos- it became my problem. What you see in that bowl is about 1/4c. garlic salt. Oops. Sorry Jared, you were right.
*note to reader: this recipe is for baked chicken taquitos- I opted for the fried version and they were incredible. Probably almost as good baked ;-)
Stuffed Pizza Rolls- they were good but homemade pizza crust would be much better!rebs and mj waiting semi-patiently for their pizza rollsPeapod is 21 pounds at 9 months old. He is in the 70th percentile for his weight, 20th percentile for his height and my personal favorite...97th percentile for his head circumference.
the girls playing "church" during their quiet time. do i have dream kids or what?!

a mooshy unvalentines day post

Jared and I went on a "week following Valentines, even though we already had a killer valentines date" date yesterday. 4 kids and nine years later, we have more fun now than we did the day we got married. Yes the honeymoon in Kauai was fun but this was almost better just because it means that even after the 4 kids and several sleepless nights, and getting puked on, and getting pooped on- we still find time to have a pretty rad day away- (and a great time coming home, getting attacked by the kids and making a saweet dinner.)

Picture extravaganza follows...
the view- after feeling muscles I don't think I have ever felt before
a very steep hill that as we were climbing up, i was making myself nauseous just thinking about going down it. it is a lot steeper than it looks!
and the cooking begins...next post.

Presidents Day blessings

1. Mexican fried rice
2. Costco formula, diapers and wipes
3. Homemade Tamales de Carnitas
4. Valentines Dates
5. Reminiscing
6. Target home furnishings
7. Going to the movie theater
8. Good desserts
9. Days that we don't have to go anywhere
10. Free samples of anything
11. Having a piano
12. Having 2 kids that can read
13. Good teachers that teach my kids at school (even when one of them doesn't appreciate MJ quite as enthusiastically as her past teachers and parents do- she still chose to be a teacher and I appreciate that- sorry for having an emotional breakdown during Parent-Teacher conference.)

It's not V-day yet but I finished my ode so why wait?

Oh Mr. Allgood, how longs it been?
You flexing in the mirror reminds me of when...
You drove me around in a BMW
And told me that I was in love with you
We went on a hike in the Superstitions,
I agreed to get married with some conditions
We went to dinner in Nogales, Mexico
Please Mr. Border guard, to jail I WON"T GO!
You do the running man and put competition to shame
Shocking I know but Scrabble isn't really my game.
A little bit Metro, a little bit REI,
a little bit Young Republiucan, but also a flaming liberal kinda guy.
You do the weather report and have me confused,
The man I married should be on the news!
A series of jokes and other silly things
Don't begin to describe why I wear a wedding ring
Or why I married the nerdiest, coolest guy in earth
Or why to 4 children I have given birth.

The reasons why cannot be written
Hopefully they are known and we are still smitten
As long as I stay in the kitchen ;-)

Love you.

Ahhh, cinnamon rolls!

I made a couple batches of homemade cinnamon rolls on Friday evening. I wish they were all for me but they weren't- they were for Jared and the young men for a post-basketball breakfast treat on Saturday morning. My house smelled like what I imagine heaven smells like. This week my ten + 2 has a theme. FOOD! What isn't about food at my house? Here we go.

1. Homemade cinnamon rolls, recipe HERE. *you can prepare them the night before and bake in the morning- it's awesome.
2. Meals for my family of 6 for under $5.00
3. Food at Thaifoon at the Gateway is way over priced but the food is delicious.
4. Carabbas- Our favorite Italian restaurant
5. El Mexiquense- an extremely delicious Mexican food hole in the wall.
6. Dessert for dinner (some people call it breakfast for dinner but whatever, it's dessert)
7. Formula for Peter- what did people do who weren't able to nurse or before the creation of formula?
8. Cough Drops- even though it's not food- they save me.
9. Leftovers you don't get sick of (even after 4 days)
10. Kodiak whole wheat pancake mix-you just add water to it!
11. Live the Life - I've lost 26.4 pounds and just recommitted myself to losing the rest. It includes meal plans, recipes, grocery lists, goal setting, weekly conference call, it is amazing. Let me know if you sign up for it- you can try it for 7 days for free! Oh, and I am NEVER hungry!
12. This isn't food but having a baby with eczema reminded me I need to do this again- HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT! Saves money and sensitive skin!

Sunny cold weather is my least favorite of the possible choices and that is pretty much all it has been lately. I practically have sun depression. But, hearing stories like THIS make me marvel at the strength of the human spirit! I need a dose of that every once in a while.

The 10+

This past week, I made a meal plan and stuck to it! I think this has only happened one other time and that was when we only had one kid. So, it was a feat. Maybe this coming week, I can make a chore chart and stick to it? Nah.

1. Meal plans- Monday: french dips-Tuesday: french dips (leftovers)-Wednesday: something with Chicken but I forget now-Thursday: Indian Pork Skewers with Coconut Rice-Friday: Indian Pork leftovers-Saturday was date night-Sunday: french dips again but this time with homemade french bread- Monday: Honey chicken and sweet potato french fries (that is tonight!).
2. Good diets that produce such good results you really want to try and stick to them!
3. Granite Countertops
4. Wood floors- we don't have them anymore but I miss them!
5. Mom's and Muffins Day in MJ's kindergarten class.
6. Antique Highchairs
7. Making plans to travel someday
8. ourbestbites.com
9. That democrats no longer hold a super majority (I mean really, that was ridiculous)
10. The outlet mall!