TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!!! and FREE KRISPY KREMES

So I have recently been getting into couponing a little bit. I didn't want to before because I always felt like coupons just make you buy more stuff.. which is how I still feel but that doesn't mean I can't find coupons for stuff that I already buy. So I've found a couple of websites that let you print coupons because I don't want to pay for the paper. I've found a few good ones. And I found an amazing site that is called www.freebies2deals.com. Check it out!! It is amazing. There are so many awesome deals that this woman finds. She has inspired me to be a little more frugal and size a little more. I know it seems like a little bit of money that you are saving but it will add up by the end of the year. Being young, poor, and married.. Saving money is definitely a must!!

Anyways.. so on her website today she posted that Krispy Kreme would be giving out a free donut to whoever came in and talked like a pirate or wore an eye patch... well Krispy Kreme usually gives you a free donut anyways.. here is the kicker... if you dress in full pirate garb then they will give you a whole dozen of original glazed for free!! I said oh yeah.. that'll be fun.. technically I'm not supposed to eat donuts but I would never pass up an opportunity to dress up. So, I got to work and found some stuff.. luckily I had red fabric!!! So here are the pics of the pirate costumes that I put together in less than an hour with stuff that I had in my home.

Savannah is my happy girl!! On the other hand.. Jake is such a grump sometimes. It took me about 5 minutes to get him to let me put the bandana on him. He wouldn't let me put the eye patch.. And then he wouldn't smile for the picture. Savannah is just looking at him like oh come on.. just smile Jakey!!:-)

Our pirate grrr.. faces. Savannah is smiling at us and Jake is looking for help.

He probably thinks we are crazy!!

Oh man!! I guess I gotta teach him not to pick his nose!!

Finally got a good picture of his whole outfit!! I totally made that sword too!!

His first Krispy Kreme!!!

Daddy like them too!!

Me and Savvy girl!!

 

 

Baptism FHE

Shaun and I have been trying our best to do FHE, but it doesn't always work out. We came up with an idea to make an agenda and put the lesson on there and just save the whole document under each lesson title. For instance, I'll save this one on my computer as Baptism. I'm sure that we will do more than one lesson with the kids on baptism. We feel like this way we can have the same type of format but change it up from time to time. Or if we forgotten what we've done then at least we have a record of the lesson. I thought it might be helpful to post about it in case someone out there wanted some help. Feel free to change what you want. P.S. This is more of a lesson guideline. I've never been very good at writing out everything. I do better with just an outline.

 

FHE Agenda

 

Opening Song: “Baptism” – Children’s Songbook pg 100-101

Opening Prayer: Mom

Sharing time/Family Business & Calendar:    Share anything you feel inclined to share. Talk about upcoming events & Go over the calendar for that week

Lesson by: Mom

TOPIC: Baptism

-WATCH THIS VIDEO

 

Talk a little about how everyone needs to be baptized. Jesus set the example for us. (Of course you can adjust based on your families needs)

 READ - Alma 7:15-16, Book of Mormon - DISCUSS

 SHARE this quote -

"The attributes by which we shall be judged one day are all spiritual. These include love, virtue, integrity, compassion, and service to others. Your spirit, coupled with and housed in your body, is able to develop and manifest these attributes in ways that are vital to your eternal progression. Spiritual progress is attained through the steps of faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, including the endowment and sealing ordinances of the holy temple."

 —Elder Russell M. Nelson, "Thanks Be to God", General Conference, Apr. 2012

 

QUESTIONS TO ASK?

Why is Baptism important?

How can we remember the covenants (promises) we make when we are baptized?

ACTIVITY: Coloring Pages - Click on the link - It opens as a pdf file - there is one for boys and one for girls : http://www.sugardoodle.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8629

Closing Song: “When I Am Baptized” – Children’s Songbook – pg. 103

Closing Prayer: Dad

Exploring the great outdoors in Vegas

 Well, it's been a little bit since my last post but nothing has really happened so I have had little to post about... Until today!! So Shaun came home from a job interview yesterday (he quit his pest control job because there were some not so awesome things going on.. so he started "looking for something else) and said.. let's go!! I said, "what? where are we going?" He said it's a surprise!" Well I had a Relief Society activity and we wouldn't have made it back in time so he said "we'll go tomorrow!" Well I love surprises but I have a really hard time waiting for them.. I can usually persuade Shaun in some way or other to tell me what he has planned.. but this time he stuck his ground and I didn't know where we were going until I saw the sign that said Mt. Charleston and he turned onto that road.. It was still a good surprise. I haven't been up in the mountains for awhile and I seriously didn't believe Shaun when he said it was a lot cooler but we drove up and up and up and stopped near a place called Kyle's canyon, and I got out of the car and it felt amazing!!! It was so nice to feel a little cool, mountain air breeze. It made me miss Cali a lot. Anyways, a lot of the side roads were closed because it has been raining a lot lately and there was a lot of erosion going on. So we just stopped on the side of the road and found a easy, little trail called Fletcher Canyon Trail. Jake was crying towards the end of our drive and as soon as we pulled him out and put him down on the trail he was soo happy!! He loves being outside!! Anyways, here are some pictures from our little excursion!
 

Alas, there is some beauty in Las Vegas!!! :-) It was funny because we were driving through the desert and Shaun says, "Isn't this beautiful?" I said, "Um, not really. It's a bunch of dirt and ugly desert plants!" About 20 minutes down the road and closer to the mountain it started looking less like desert and more like forest. Shaun says, "What about now?" I said, "Ok.. it's a lot prettier now!" He has been trying so hard to get me to appreciate the "beauty" of Las Vegas. Well I think I appreciate it more when I'm 25 miles away from the city. :-) A lot more beautiful out here. Who knew??
 



At the trail head. Jake would not look at the camera.. BOOGER!!





Me and my kiddos.. What is that face Savannah? This is a rare picture.. Jake is smiling and Savannah is not.. That almost never happens!
 

 Dad threw some rocks!!!

 So of course Jake had to too!! I think he was excited that I didn't get mad at him for throwing them.

 Trying to pick up the big one!!

 And he howled at the moon! or the sun I guess!! (Actually, a dog was on the trail coming down while we were going up.. He was aww-wooing like a dog when I snapped this shot!!) Sorry it's blurry but I thought it was funny!!

 And looked at me like I was crazy for taking pictures of him in his natural habitat!

 Then Savannah had to eat some rocks.

 and smile while she ate some rocks!

 and Dad kept trying to stop her from eating rocks!

 And then Jake picked up a really big rock and threw it. I'm surprised he didn't drop it on his toe.. He is stronger than I thought!

Smiling like a goof!! Daddy holding onto the rock so he doesn't throw it again!!

 Then Savannah decided to hang from the tree like a monkey!!

 So of course Jake had to do it too!!

 

And again on another branch!! He kept saying "up daadee!
 

 Cutest pic ever!! I think she already has him wrapped around her little finger!! Don't you?

 Trying to get her to look at the camera!!

 Just have Daddy take the picture!!

 Walking in the wilderness is his favorite thing to do!! He took off right a

 My explorer!! He was not scared at all!!

 My cute girl!!

 

And of course a family pic!! Not the best one ever.. I had to balance the camera on a rock that was balanced on a tree branch and then set the timer and run up the tiny hill, grab Jake, try to get Savannah to look at the camera and not me, and get Jake to smile too!! I wasn't super successful!! But it's still cute!!

And probably my favorite shot of the whole trip!! Cute!!

Random pics

I have these pics on my camera and I'm not really sure what to do with them because there isn't really a story or anything to go along with them so I thought I would just put them up for fun. Mostly.. I just really like Savannah's smile.. I can't get enough of it. For your viewing pleasure....

They were playing peek-a-boo!! IT was cute!

They like to yell!



There is my cutie pie!!

When did she get so big??

Doing what Jakey does best!



Savannah trying to get in on the camera action. She loves to grab onto my pants and pull herself up. Sometimes she does it from behind and when I'm wearing my PJ pants.. sometimes they come off. Savannah isn't even 1 yet and she's already pants-ing people. Watch out everybody!!

Love her big blue eyes!!

Jakey pretending to ignore me!

She just woke up from her nap. She looks kind of groggy still!!

I finally got him to look at me!! Little booger!

Sunday Cuties!!

So today was our first Sunday in our new ward. We were all moved in last week but we went to my cousin's ward since he was being ordained to the office of Elder. So I was a little nervous about going to a new ward as most people usually are. But there was no need to be nervous. I was welcomed right away. I already feel at home in this ward even though I don't know a lot of names yet. But they were very warm and inviting and I am so grateful for that. I really needed that so that I could stop trying to find stuff that is bad about Vegas.. It's about time that I embraced this new home of mine. I'm excited to be here.. I really am. I think that it's going to be an amazing experience for our family and I'm looking forward to all the things that the Lord has in store for us. I have a feeling that they are going to be awesome things.

 

 

Well.. seeing as how this was our first Sunday, I made sure the kids looked extra cute so I tried to get pictures. Jake wouldn't cooperate very well at first.. but finally I got them both smiling. I might just have to blow the pic up and frame it because who knows when that will happen again! They are so cute together by the way. Savannah is really getting old.. :-) She is so funny with Jake. She totally holds her own and doesn't let him push her around. She's pretty feisty!!  It's a lot of fun to see her personality coming out. And as a side note. I was walking around with her today and I let go of her hands and she stood on her own for a few seconds before she went down to the ground. I have a feeling she will be an early walker!! But you never know.. Oh, and she has her first tooth on the bottom. It's cute!! I can't wait to see what she looks like with teeth!!

I told him to put his arm around her, so he gave her a side hug!! :-)

Then he started trying to pull her towards him!!

Then I got sort of smiles.. but not really!

Then they got bored of me taking pictures so they started playing with cars.

 AND THEN..... DRUMROLL PLEASE................

 

SMILES!!! and cute ones at that!!!

And more smiles but more casual!! Still cute!

TASTY THURSDAY

So I have soooo many recipes that I have pinned on pinterest so I decided I should start trying some of them out for dinner. Tonight I made Cheesy Quinoa. I must admit I was a little skeptical because I haven't heard much about Quinoa. But, I thought I'd give it a shot. And you know what.. it turned out really good. I tweaked the recipe a little bit because I couldn't find just one leek.. so I used shallots. I think next time I make it, I'm going to put broccoli in it. I've been doing weight watchers so for those counting points.. for 1 serving it was 8 points. Not bad... I paired it with some steamed broccoli and I was satisified after dinner. I think the eggs, cheese, and milk help give it some sustenance. Anyways.. here are some pics and the recipe.
 

 

It kind of had like a really moist cornbready type texture. I really liked it!

 

CHEESY QUINOA

Serving Size: Serves 6

Ingredients

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 med. leek white and pale green parts halved and sliced (1 cup)-OR chives are fine too
• 1/2 cup diced tomato, or red/green pepper
• 1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained (OR you can just use pre-cooked and cut back on the water and cooking time)
• good pinch of salt
• a few grinds of seasoning salt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups of water (or stock)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup soy milk, non-fat milk, or milk of choice
• 1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese, more for sprinkling- NOTE: (You may find you need more cheese, BUT I use this amount to still keep the dish 'lighter' yet very flavorful.)
• Optional- Crushed Red Pepper, Panko Bread crumbs for topping
• Toppings (optional)- salsa, hot sauce, sour cream, scallions (you get the picture)

Directions

1. Heat oil in med. saucepan over med. heat. Add leek and tomatoes (or bell peppers-or any veggies you want really); cover and cook 5 mins or until tender. Stir in quinoa and garlic, and cook, uncovered, 3-4 mins, or until grains start to turn opaque. (They will not fully be cooked yet.)
2. Add 3 cups water (or stock) and season with salt and the Seasoning Salt (I like Lawry's or Everyday Seasoning). Cover and reduce heat to med-low and simmer 15-20 mins or more, (depends and also what kind of quinoa you use) or until most liquid has been absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand 5 mins.
3. Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat 13x9 inch dish with cooking spray. Whisk together eggs and milk in large bowl. Fold in quinoa mixture and cheese (if you feel you need more cheese, add here.) Stir very well and let some of the cheese melt. (Will seem a little "soupy", do not worry, it will all mold together.)
4. Transfer to prepared baking dish and if using Panko Crumbs or Bread crumbs, add now. You can also sprinkle a bit more cheese on now if you prefer for topping. Bake 25-35 mins, (or until browned around edges.)
5. Now you can toss with many toppings, some ideas: salsa, scallions, sour cream, and hot sauce! I serve with a side of steamed broccoli or a salad and a nice slice of good hearty bread. ( I didn’t put extra cheese or toppings and it was still yummy!!)

NOTE: 339 Calories per serving or 8 points (weight watchers