quick catch up...

Church is exhausting! Daniel couldn't even finish his lunch, this never happens!

Went to a children museum in Las Vegas, Livy had wear this costume everwhere

Big shot with mom's glasses on...Livy had to have some too...on our way to Disneyland

At the beach during our trip, the girls loved the shells and sand...it was Sunday so no swimming:(

Went to Discovery Gateway, the kids had a blast, including Daniel!

Danny turned big 1! in January...he reminds us of a little monkey, hence the cake!

Holiday catch up...

Rasty's family has started a monthly newsletter and thought I could cheat and use it as a quick catch up for my blog for family and friends near and far... I just don't love posting so this is the best I can do for now...
Family life just seems to get crazier and crazier. I always thought that when I am older and have kids I will have it figured out, but it seems to steer in the opposite direction. The closer we get to number six in our family, the more freaked out I get! This past month we have had great highs and unfortunate lows, but life goes on. I got released as YW president and in the same bishop appointment, Rasty was called to first counselor in the YM. Talk about high and low. I have spent many months planning and preparing youth conference that occurred a few weeks ago and ended up sending Rasty and I got the kids for the weekend...blah! We were also ending our year long 'temple trek' to all the temples in Utah this month, and yes...sent Rasty to last temple while I stayed home with the kids...blah blah! So I have a void to fill in my life, YW filled every extra minute and brain cell I had. I served in some way in the yw for almost 4 years and it has been so hard to detach and grow in some other way in the gospel. I am so grateful for callings that make us stretch in ways we didn't know we could. And the moment you think you have it figured out, you get released and moved onto something to make you grow in a completely different way, God knows what he is doing! Now I am supposed fulfill my calling as a mom, something I struggle with right now, I am completely exhausted and trying to figure out how I will ever have enough time and love for 4 little ones, time will only tell! The condition of the house influences my attitude and mood, so I am starting with de-cluttering, de-cluttering , and more de-cluttering...or is it nesting? One closet or corner gets some serious attention each day, and leaves me time to play with kids or watch them play while I park myself on the couch while my whale-like belly crushes my lungs! Oh the life! Only 6 weeks left... or less, who knows!
So Rasty is finally working inside the elementary he is building, they got the roof on this month and life is good! He took a record breaking week off of work for a family vacation...minus Daniel who stayed at the Bob and Liz Hotel (Rasty's parents). We took the girls to So. California and Las Vegas, Disneyland was obviously the highlight. We paid for parking and that's about it, loved it! It's awesome when your brother works for Disney...we were spoiled with free tickets. We loved spending time at the beach for a few hours looking for shells and sand crabs, and the 80 degree weather wasn't so bad! Spent the rest of the vacation taking care of Rasty and the nasty flu he got. He was miserable, miserable enough to make me drive! That never happens. Annika and Livy have the worst case of cabin fever. They are ready to play outside again, had to pull the bikes out of the shed this month. Annika got registered for kindergarten and we are all so excited! Livy may just die for 3 hours a day, that girls is never 2 feet away from Annika, they are best frenemies! Daniel gave me his worst side ever the week after spending a week with his new girlfriend Auntie Emily and buddy Will at grandma Snow's. You looked at him he cried, touched him he cried...it sent me to crazyland. Then spent a day back with Emily and Will and life was good again, been a gem since! That little stinker! I am seriously obsessed with this little boy now. I don't know if it's his big brown eyes or his cute little pudgy body, but he is just darling and I can't wait to have another boy. He spent the day down in the basement helping dad frame up the girls new bedroom. He seriously sat in a room full of wood and sawdust for 2 hours and just ate up the construction world! Such a daddy's boy. The air compressor, nail gun, and saws just intrigued him the entire time, no crying or fussing...it was pretty cute to find him and his dad covered in sawdust just chilling in a big mess of wood and nails.
So I came came up with a "before dinner boredom buster", the girls get whiny and sassy while I am cooking so I filled cake pans with enough salt to cover the bottoms and tools from the kitchen to write or design shapes in the salt...keep the salt separate from cooking salt when done and pull it out for those crutch moments, works for us. I have insert the best recipe EVER...I usually don't ooo and ahhh over the food I cook, it just tastes better when someone else does the cooking, but found this recipe for valentine's dinner and it copy-cat my favorite dish at Macaroni Grill... Rasty and I were seriously in heaven, had to embellish because I didn't have everything it called for, but it didn't matter... girls loved it too.

Italian Lemon Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

• Lemon Butter Sauce:
  
• 1/4 cup white wine (Didn't use...added few tablespoons of red wine vinegar)
  
• 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 5 tablespoons heavy cream (used whole milk and tripled to make more sauce)
  
• 1 cup butter, chilled ( only used 1/2 C.)
  
• salt and pepper to taste
• 
  
• Chicken and Pasta:
• 1/2 pound dry farfalle (bow tie) pasta ( used angel hair)
  
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded to 1/4 inch thickness
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 ounces bacon ( didn't add)
  
• 6 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 6 ounces artichoke hearts, drained and halved
• 2 teaspoons capers, drained ( found next to olives at grocery store...maybe $2, good in any pasta dish)
  
• chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Directions

1. To make the sauce, pour the wine and lemon juice into a saucepan over medium heat. Cook at a low boil until the liquid is reduced by 1/3. Stir in cream, and simmer until it thickens. Gradually add the butter 1 tablespoon at a time to the sauce, stirring until completely incorporated. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat, and keep warm.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
3. To make the chicken, heat oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. In a bowl, stir together flour, salt, and pepper. Lightly coat chicken with flour mixture. Without crowding, carefully place chicken in hot oil. (If necessary, cook in batches.) Fry until cooked through and golden brown on both sides. Remove the chicken to paper towels. Stir the bacon, mushrooms, artichokes, and capers into the oil; cook until the mushrooms are soft.
4. Cut the chicken breasts into bite-size strips, and return them to the skillet. Stir half of the lemon butter sauce into the chicken mixture.
5. To serve, place pasta in a large bowl. Stir the chicken mixture into the pasta. Taste, and adjust seasonings. Stir in additional lemon butter sauce as desired. Toss well, and garnish with parsley.

Well that's our story this month....all I can say is we are not naming this baby Jimmer no matter Rasty is telling you! Loves and kisses.