I'm back! (for today) and a Recipe

I took a break from the computer yesterday, that's why I didn't post. I don't have an excuse for the rest of the time I've been missing.

Just a few blurps for today:

• I made Chicken and Broccoli Braid for supper last night (Megan's recipe to follow). It was so good! Jeff and I both agreed that I need to make it again sometime. I used Amy I's crescent roll recipe (Magnolia Lane cookbook) rather than Pillsbury crescent rolls. (You know me, I make EVERYTHING from scratch!)


• I'm working on cards for Etsy. It's been so fun to get creative again, I've been doing some serious slacking. Maybe if I keep it up it won't take me so long to make everything...


• My desk and the room it resides in are out of control. We had wanted to move Adrian in there soon but I'm afraid he might get lost. I guess I have some organizing to do!


• Adrian will be 6 months in about 2 weeks. Wait, what?!


• We are looking forward to March to be able to visit our families. We will also be going to Texas to visit my "Aunt-in-laws" family. Jeff's family will (hopefully!) be down there with us as well. I think they're pretty excited!


• Jeff got some free tickets to a Northern hockey game tonight so that's where you can find us. Go Wildcats!


• I'm washing clothes today. I love doing laundry. Do you think that's strange? Remember that Paula! (She always gets after me for folding their laundry when I'm there, I just can't help it!) The first "real" job I had was at the Gap and looking back through all of my jobs, that was probably the best one. I got to fold clothes all day! And use a cash register, that was fun.

That's all for now!

Oh yeah, here's that recipe:

Chicken and Broccoli Braid

2 pkgs. refrigerated crescent rolls
2 c. coarsley chopped cooked chicken
1 1/2 c. coarsley chopped broccoli
1 c. (4 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 c. diced red bell pepper
1/3 c. mayonnaise
2 tsp dried dill
1/4 tsp salt
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 egg white, beaten
1/4 c. slivered almonds

Preheat oven to 375. Combine chicken, broccoli, cheese, bell pepper, mayo, dill, salt, and garlic; mix well. Roll out crescent rolls onto a baking pan. Scoop filling onto dough. Starting on the long side of the pan, cut sides of dough into eight strips about 1 1/2" wide by 3" long. Lift a strip, twist one turn, and lay across top of filling. Repeat, alternating strips to form a braid. Brush with egg white. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake 25-30 minutes until golden brown.

I have to confess, it is more difficult to cut and braid the homemade crescent roll dough. I gave up after attempting to cut the first strip and just kind of stuck it all together on top. It wasn't very pretty. Maybe next time I'll actually try to make it look right. It tasted great either way!

Fruit (and Veggie?) Smoothie

I've been eating smoothies for breakfast lately. Okay, so the last two days. When I told Jeff what I have been putting in them he thought I was gross. "Carrots don't belong in smoothies!" (I don't think he even mentioned the spinach.) Don't be fooled, they are healthy AND delicious!

I also added banana.

A Beautiful day at the Lake

I decided it's been too long since I experienced the fresh winter air. It was just above freezing today so Adrian and I went for a walk. Well, I walked and Adrian hung out. Literally.


Will you just look at those fat cheeks, I bet you just want to squeeze them. I know I do!
If you'll notice the tear under his eye...poor kid, he needs sunglasses. I do love to reunite with the sun every so often but it sure is bright in the winter when it's reflecting off of the millions of sparkling snowflakes. Wow, I am definitely not a descriptive writer, that felt so awkward.


Doesn't that look fun?! I don't know if it's the fact that we're closer to nature in these parts or if people really are more into outdoor sports here but it seems like everywhere I turn, there is someone enjoying what this land has to offer. In the winter, they para-ski--totally making up that term--on the frozen lakes, and in the summer they do the same thing on water. It looks like a fun time not to mention a killer workout!

Calling all "Couponers"

Or Coupon Freaks as my sisters and I so affectionately call one another.


There is a new coupon blog that I have been anxiously awaiting. I am very excited to announce the arrival of The Modern Saver! This site features coupon deals and match-ups for the Copper Country area. Just what I need! There will also be deals posted for Wal-mart and Family Dollar so even if you aren't in the Copper Country area, be sure to check it out!

5 months

This little dude is 5 months. And since I know you've all been waiting for this, here it is:

• Adrian finally figured out how to use his Johnny Jump Up.
• He's rolling everywhere. Not necessarily consecutive rolls but he does eventually make his way across the room. Or under the chair. Or on the newspaper.
• He's reaching out to grab anything and everything.
• He can sit up if he supports himself with his hands.
• He likes to play with his pacifier but hasn't figured out how to get it back in his mouth every time.
• He makes little "aah" noises over and over again just to hear his own voice. (I love it!)
• He's still all gums.
• He is often found with his hands folded, almost interlaced.
• He is as smiley as ever and will laugh if you tickle him.
• He just discovered his feet, he keeps grabbing them.
• He's in the 50th percentile for height and 75th for weight (I just learned that today).
• He is practically perfect in every way!
  

A New Year, a New Me!

Let's hope.

I usually don't participate in New Year resolutions but there are so many things I want to do and change right now that I made a list. It was a long list. In the end I realized that I would be completely overwhelmed and defeated if I really tried to do everything. There was one goal however that I will work on. That goal is better time management. I am a notorious procrastinator. If you didn't know that by now you must not know how to read. I've told you a dozen times. I plan on making a (very flexible) schedule for myself and making lots of to do lists. If I can only manage my time better I can accomplish basically everything else on my list. It may not get my car paid off but it will help me exercise regularly, plan healthy meals, and get rid of clutter for good!

I do apologize if that picture of Adrian makes your eyes wig out. There was a huge overhang of snow blocking the light from the window so I couldn't get a clear shot. Also, it looks like his sleeve is in focus more than his face. *sigh* Photography. One more thing I need to work on.

Day shift, and a very merry Christmas

Who knew day shift could be so exciting?? Jeff's been on afternoons for a year and while we're quite accustomed to it by now, I am so excited for him to switch to days! He found out yesterday and since then I can't stop thinking about the possibilities! I'm so excited to have a "normal" schedule again. I can't tell you how much we've had to miss out on because of his schedule. It'll be nice to have a social life again!



For some reason I always have a hard time writing about the trip I just returned from. Maybe because I feel obligated to. Either way, it always sounds weird when I write it out. Kind of, well, really boring. So in an effort to change that up a bit I'll just give you some bullet points of my week and a half downstate for Christmas.

• There were 26 people at any given time at Mom and Dad's.
• We spent Christmas morning with Jeff's family
• Adrian received books from his Grandma and Grandpa that were given to Jeff as a kid (with little notes inside)
• I made it to coffee with the girls
• We bought a new computer on our way home [insert big grin here]
• I *finally* found boots, they weren't suede as I had wanted but they are gray
• We seem to be missing someone on Christmas every year in my family, this year it was the families of my sister Sara and my brother Brad (And they were missed! Hopefully we can have a Christmas with all of us one day but it's getting harder and harder as each family grows.)
• 1 o'clock was my earliest bedtime, those [insert Jeff's family name]'s sure are night owls!
• Adrian was a peach both traveling and visiting except for a few hours
• We were able to see every member of both families with the exception of Sara...guess we'll just have to make a trip out to Minnesota! (We saw Brad's family for the last two days once they returned home.)
• I consumed an average of 36,000 calories a day. I'm surprised that I'm not having sugar withdrawals. Oh wait, I've been wolfing down my messed up toffee so I'm good til that's gone.
• Little Ava is adorable! We were finally able to meet Jeff's youngest cousin.
• I missed my grandparents who were in town for Christmas.
• I cut Dan's hair before we left and he was telling me stories that I didn't quite understand and then he finally told me "Heid, you should laugh at my jokes." Well, that got me anyways!
• Kendall really loves her Momma and usually isn't content with anyone besides her or her Dad. Oh yeah, and me. I've been told a few hundred times that I look like Amanda so I'm wondering if she was confused...either way she was more than happy to come to me!
• Grandma and Papa Freddie gave all the grandkids hats made by Julie L. I absolutely love Adrian's hat, and it's a little big so it may fit him next year. Yay!
• My family got a Wii for Christmas so that was basically the entertainment around there. Jeff's family got one last year so we could play no matter where we were! What a fun system! *Someone* got so into bowling that they put a bump in the carpet from sliding so hard! (Don't worry, they got it all flattened out again.)
• It was so nice to feel like we could actually enjoy our families since we were there so long (although Jeff did come back home to work for two days). Surprisingly (or unsurprisingly?) enough, I wasn't anxious to get back home.
• Jeff's vacation falls in March this year so we have two trips planned already. I'm glad I have something to look forward to after getting back to reality!

I'll have to post more pictures later (some possibly stolen from facebook) I didn't get pictures of half of our dear family.

...Or if you'd like, Amanda, Jennifer, and my Mom have pictures posted. Yeah, that sounds easier. ;)