Long 4th of July Weekend

I absolutely love when Louis gets a few days off for holidays.  It is the best thing ever!  This year, he had Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday off!  We started out our fun weekend on Wednesday night.  In Logan they do fireworks on the 3rd of July.  We've never gone up to the stadium to hear the concert that goes along with it.  We enjoy staying home and going across the street to the soccer field where we can see them really well.  Plus we don't have to wait in hour long (or longer) traffic to get home!  Louis had an idea to invite his family over for dinner before the fireworks.  Like always, we had a good time together.

The next day we went down to my parent's and had breakfast with my family.  After a late breakfast my mom, Megan, Tafton, Mikaela, Mary, and I went to Park City to shop.  

We spent the rest if the day at my parent's house.  That night we sat on the front porch playing with glow sticks, sparkler, and watching fireworks.  At one point we decided to go across the street to get a better view.  We were there maybe 10 minutes when the sprinkler went off.  Louis was holding Avery and turned to run away from the sprinklers, (for those of you who don't know, he hates getting wet) he ran into a fire hydrant and fell off the curb.  He threw Avery up in the air, and turned his body around to catch her so he would hit the ground and not Avery.  It worked, but he got a huge cut on his elbow and hand.  Avery just got a small scrape on her elbow.  Avery was more scared than anything so I went to calm her down and put her in bed.  My mom did most of the cleaning off of Louis who had bled a lot and was getting light headed.  His wounds looked gross, but they are healing pretty nicely now.  That ended our eventful 4th!  

On Friday I ran around town with my dad and got the title to their van switched over to my name.  After that we just spent the day at the Brandley's.  That evening we took my mom and dad to dinner because they are leaving on their mission tomorrow!

Saturday morning we relaxed at home then bought a treadmill from the D.I. (early anniversary present!) I'm very excited to be able to use it and not have to run outside in the ridiculous heat or drive to the gym across town.  That evening we went to the Cruise-In.  There were some awesome cars this year.  There were also ones that honestly should not have been in a car show!  My favorite car was this Pinewood Derby looking car!  It was going really fast, so this was the best picture I could get.

We all had a great time.  Avery loves being around her cousins and spent the night running around with them.

We had a nice relaxing weekend with our families and now are going back to our normal life!  It was a nice break from all the over time Louis has been working.  I hope everyone had a great weekend too!

July Dinner Menu

I decided this month to create a dinner menu for the entire month!  My reasons were to hopefully cut down on the grocery bill and just to simplify things a bit for me.  I've decided to share it with everyone, including the recipes!  This is going to take a while to type up, it's the first of July today, but we'll see when I actually post it, it may be in a few days when I finish :)

Here is a look at my completed dinner menu!

click to enlarge!

As you can see I have leftovers at least once a week.  I don't include side dishes in my menu, I usually just do some frozen veggies or some fruit.  No need to really include it in the menu because they only take a few minutes to prepare.  I've also decided to do breakfast for dinner once a month.  Something that Avery really enjoys!  Waffles and syrup!

I hope everyone can find some new recipes they like!

Now for the recipes.  I'll start on day one.  This one is in the crock pot right now, and smells so good!  I love my crock pot!

Chicken Tacos  recipe source

5-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (they can be frozen)

1 envelope taco seasoning

1 (16oz) jar of salsa

Directions:  

Place chicken in crock pot, cover with salsa and top with taco seasoning.  Cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low 6-8 hours.  When finished remove from crock pot and shred.  Return to crock pot and stir.  Serve with hard or soft taco with whatever topping you'd like!
*Freezer friendly

I actually have this left over from my mom and dad's farewell, but here is my BBQ chicken recipe.

Shredded BBQ Chicken
4-6 boneless skinless chicken breast (they can be frozen)
1 bottle BBQ sauce-I always throw in a bit more on top after it's done cooking
1/4 C vinegar
1 tsp red pepper flakes (more or less to your preference)
1/4 C brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder

Directions:
Mix BBQ sauce, vinegar, red pepper flakes, brown sugar, and garlic powder.  Place chicken in crock pot.  Pour sauce over it and cook on low for 4-6 hours.  Done.  You can eat it as is or shred chicken and serve over rice, with mashed potatoes, or on buns.
*Freezer friendly

This is a meal my mom made and I have always loved it.  There's no real recipe, but here's how you make it.
Parmesan Chicken Patties
Breaded Chicken Patties
Spaghetti Sauce
Sliced Cheese

I usually buy the Tyson's breaded chicken patties.  Place them on baking sheet, put a spoonful of your favorite spaghetti sauce on each one, top with a slice of cheese (I prefer mozzarella).  Bake as directed on chicken patty package.  I always serve this with mashed potatoes because it's oh so good to cut off a piece and dip it in the mashed potatoes before you eat it!

BBQ Chicken Pizza
1 can refrigerated pizza dough
6 Tbsp BBQ sauce
Shredded cheese
1/2 C mayonnaise
2 cooked and diced chicken breasts
2 Tbsp ranch dressing

Directions:  
Preheat oven as directed on pizza dough and bake as directed.  Meanwhile mix mayo and ranch dressing together; spread over crust.  Mix chicken and BBQ sauce together and sprinkle top.  Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.  Place back in the oven until cheese is melty, about 5 minutes.

These are so dang good!
Chicken Roll-Ups
2 -3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 package cream cheese, softened
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 package ranch dressing mix
2 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls (those ones that are scary to open)
1/4 C melted butter
bread crumbs

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.  Boil chicken breasts and shred.  In a large mixing bowl combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing mix.  I also add in garlic sometimes because I like it.  Unroll crescent rolls and place a large spoonful of mixture on the wide part of each roll.  Roll up and place on a cookie sheet.  Brush each roll with melted butter, and sprinkle with bread crumbs. (you don't have to do this last part, but it makes them more tasty and fancy)  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Lasagna  (this recipe is from Louis' mom)
Enough lasagna noodles for how many pans you want (12 noodles to each 9X12 pan)
1 lb ground beef
2 cans spaghetti sauce
Shredded mozzarella cheese
16 oz cottage cheese per pan
1 egg
1/4 C oil

Directions:  
Brown ground beef and drain.  Mix in with spaghetti sauce.  Put a full ladle of sauce int he bottom of the pan.  Layer with 3 noodles lengthwise and one horizontal  (you usually have to bread the horizontal one to fit).  Ladle sauce to cover noodles.  Mix the cottage cheese with beaten egg and the oil.  Spoon on half of the cottage cheese mixture.  Sprinkle cheese on top.  Repeat the process again.  Finish off with noodles and then cover with sauce and sprinkle with cheese.  Cover with tin foil.  Preheat oven to 425 and bake for 15 minutes.  Lower temperature to 350 for 30 minutes.  Take off foil and cook another 15 minutes.
*Freezer friendly

I saw a friend pin this a few weeks ago and it sounded yummy!  I couldn't find the actual recipe though.
Grilled Cheese with Avocado  recipe source
Whole wheat bread
Avocado
Mozzarella cheese
Goat cheese (if you like that kind of thing)

Directions:
Butter both pieces of bread, load it up, grill it up.  Devour

Probably our favorite recipe ever.  It was from my mom, but I'd say I've made it my own by shredding the chicken and eating it as a dip.
Chicken Dip
4-6 boneless skinless chicken breast (frozen)
1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 jar of salsa
1 package cream cheese

Place chicken in crock pot.  Top with corn, black beans, and salsa.  Cook on high 4-5 hours.  Remove chicken from crock pot and shred.  Return to crock pot and stir together.  Throw cream cheese on top and let sit in crock pot for half an hour.  Stir together.  You can have this with chips, as nachos, in a tortilla with cheese. . .
*Freezer friendly

Pesto Chicken  (My friend Tina gave me this recipe)
Boneless skinless chicken breasts
Pesto sauce
Shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:  
Put a layer of pesto  in a glass baking dish where you will lay each chicken breast, then put the chicken breasts on top.  Add more pesto to the top (a nice thick layer), sprinkle with cheese.  Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes.

Baked Tacos  recipe source
2 lbs ground beef
1 small onion diced
1 small can diced green chilies
1 package taco seasoning
1 can low sodium tomato sauce
1 can refried beans
2 C shredded cheese
18-20 hard taco shells

Directions:  
Preheat oven to 400.  In a large skillet brown ground beef and onion over medium-high heat.  Drain off excess liquid.  Return to pan, add chilies, refried beans, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning.  Mix well and cook for a few minutes.  Spoon the taco meat mixture into the taco shells and place, standing up, into a 9X13 inch baking dish.  Sprinkle cheese over the top of the taco meat mixture in each shell.  Bake 10-15 minutes or until the cheese has melted.  Remove from oven and top with whatever you want, ranch, salsa, sour cream, lettuce, etc.

Chicken and Veggies
10 medium red potatoes
1 lb baby carrots
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 tsp garlic powder

Directions:  
Cut potatoes into chunks.  Place cut potatoes and carrots in crock pot.  Place chicken breasts on top of veggies.  Combine the soups and garlic powder and pour over chicken.  Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Spanish Spaghetti  (A Keeffer family classic!)
1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, diced
3 cups spaghetti
3 cans tomato soup
shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:  
Break spaghetti into thirds and place in large boiling pot of water.  Cook as directed.  Meanwhile brown ground beef and onion.  Drain excess grease.  Drain spaghetti and add in ground beef and tomato soup.  Pour into a 9X13 inch baking dish top with cheese.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

This recipe is easy because it's all cans!  Just open drain and dump!
Chicken Taco Soup  (recipe source)
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed (sometimes I use kidney beans instead)
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1 can sweet corn, drained
1 can chicken breast, drained (I never buy canned chicken, substitute 4-5 boneless skinless chicken breast, it needs to be defrosted)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can green enchilada sauce
1 can chicken broth
1 package taco seasoning

Directions:
Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.  Dump all the ingredients into slow cooker and stir together.  Cook on low heat for 2-3 hours.  If you didn't use canned chicken this is when you need to shred the chicken.  Serve with shredded cheese and tortilla chips.  I also almost always add brown rice to this recipe for some more fiber.
*Freezer friendly

Easy Stromboli
1/2 lb ground beef
1 can refrigerated pizza crust (or make your own)
1/2 C spaghetti sauce
1 C shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

Directions:
Heat oven to 400.  Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.  Brown ground beef in medium skillet over medium high heat until thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently.  Drain and set aside.  Unroll dough on cooking sheet.  Starting at center, press out dough to form 12X8 inch rectangle.  Spread sauce over dough to within 2 inches of long sides and 1/2 in of short sides.  Place cooked ground beef lengthwise down center, forming 3 inch wide strip and to within 1/2 inch  of short sides.  Top with cheese and Italian seasoning.  Fold long sides of dough over filling; press edges to seal.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Tuna Melts
Bread
Canned Tuna
Mayonnaise
BBQ sauce
Shredded cheese

Directions:
 Preheat oven to 350.  Open Tuna and drain.  Mix BBQ sauce or mayonnaise (whichever you prefer) with tuna.  Distribute evenly onto bread.  Top with whatever cheese you prefer.  Bake for 10-15 minutes.

Crock Pot Orange Chicken
4 boneless skinless chicken breast, chopped into small chunks
1/3 C flour
Olive oil
1/2 Tbsp salt
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
3 Tbsp ketchup
6 oz frozen orange juice concentrate (thaw or put it in microwave for 45 seconds)
4 Tbsp brown sugar

Directions:  
In a bowl, mix the orange juice, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, and ketchup.  Pour the flour in a small bowl.  Cover the chicken breast breast chunks in flour and shake off the excess.  Pour small amount of olive oil in a skillet and brown the flour-covered chicken.  The chicken doesn't need to be fully cooked since it's going in the crock pot.  After the chicken is done cooking, pour the pieces into a smaller crock pot.  Then cover the chicken with your sauce mixture and give the pot a stir.  Cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.  Serve over rice and even add veggies if you want a healthier meal.

Taco Salad
1 lb ground beef
1 package taco seasoning
Salsa
Corn
Chopped Avocado
Lettuce
Olives (if you like those gross things)
Shredded cheese
Tortilla chips

Directions:  
Brown ground beef, drain and add taco seasoning as directed.  Serve with whatever seasonings you'd like, salsa, corn, avocado, lettuce, olives, shredded cheese, etc.  Eat with tortilla chips.

This recipe is from my mom and I've never made it before.
Chicken Salad Sandwiches
2 boneless skinless chicken breast
Mayonnaise
Green onions
Craisins
Sliced Almonds

Directions:  
Okay I'm making this up as I go, because like I said, I've never made it before.  My mom just explained how to make it.  Boil chicken and shred.  Mix in Mayonnaise until it looks good. . .Add in chopped green onions, craisins, and almonds.  Eat on yummy rolls.
*Freezer friendly

Enjoy!

9 months

Our baby is 9 months old!  She just keeps getting sweeter and sweeter!  

At her appointment she weighed in at 18 lbs 5 oz (50%)

She was 27 inches long (35%)

Her head was 18 1/4 inches (95%)

So still average weight, short, and a big head!  

At her appointment

Mary was not feeling well the weekend she turned 9 months!  The morning of her appointment I noticed she felt a little warm, but decided not to worry about it since we'd be going in to the doctor that day anyway.  When they took her temperature it was normal even though she still felt warm.  That night the fever came.  

All the way up to 102.7, she was a very tired, snugly little girl.  

Which was kind of nice, but also kind of not.  

Especially during the night.  

I ended up bringing her into bed with me two nights in a row because she would sleep better.  

I'm pretty sure the fever was from her second tooth coming in.  

Mary is such a patient baby, especially with her overly affectionate sister!  

I still love seeing their relationship form.  They are the best of friends.  I wish you all could spend a day at my house so you could see all the cute things they do all day!!  I'd go ahead and tell you, but that would make for a very long blog post!

Since turning 9 months Mary has had her first ice cream cone!  She loved it!

You can see her here holding tight to my arm so I don't take that ice cream cone away!

Mary also had her first ride on the swing!  She really liked it!

Mary is a true joy to have in our home.  Her little personality is coming out.  She loves to laugh.  She already fake laughs.  Well it's more like a chuckle, I love it.  She loves music and singing.  Avery loves to sing Primary songs to her.  She loves to be outside and explore.  She is mischievous and tries to be sneaky!  Like speed crawling to the stairs when she sees the gate is down and when I try to stop her she just laughs hysterically!  Or crawling to the garden to eat dirt.  Oh dear we love our Mary, she is such a blessing in our home.

A Trip 14 Years in the Making

When I was 10 my family and I were in Idaho Falls.  We were walking around the temple and I can still remember the spirit my 10 year old self felt.  As  I looked up at the temple, I asked my mom 

if we could get married in any temple we wanted.  

She told me you could and I told her that this was the temple I wanted to get married in.

My mom and I for years talked about going back up to Idaho Falls and going to the temple (we did once and had such a fun time, but didn't go to the temple).  

This last weekend, 14 years later, we finally did!  

It was about time!

On Saturday we headed out at about 10 in the morning and got to the temple about 12:30.  

It was beautiful!  The temple was wonderful!  

After we took some pictures and headed over to Smitty's to eat!  Even though I was told their breakfast is better than Jeremiah's I ordered from the lunch menu.  

I did get a cinnamon roll to take home for Louis.  It was huge!!  I should have taken a picture.

After Smitty's we walked around the River.  We think we walked about 5 miles.  It was really beautiful, but for much of the beginning we had to watch our feet instead of what was around us because the sidewalk was mostly covered with duck poop!  

It didn't last too long though!

Lots of poop!

We saw this on our walk.  We are pretty certain since they came
from Pennsylvania that they are related to us.

When we finished our walk we headed home!  

The whole trip was great and something I will remember forever.  I'm grateful for my mom and all of the memories we've had together.  

She's going to be leaving on a mission in just two weeks and I know she's going to be wonderful!  I'm going to miss her more than I know.

Father's Day

I think this was the best Father's Day yet!  I had lots of surprises for Louis and he said he had a really wonderful day.  Mary and I got up an hour before Louis and Avery so I got breakfast ready and then woke up the sleepyheads.  We gave Louis his presents after that.  I got him a a book, some Reese's Pieces (because he shared all of his with Mary), a framed picture of him with his girls, and superman shirts for the girls, and a video of the girls singing "I'm so Glad When Daddy Comes Home".  He said the video and the picture was his favorite.  Avery loved the video as well, she asked Louis to play it over and over and over again and had the same silly smile on her face each time!  

Louis is such a good dad!  Avery and Mary adore him.  It makes my heart melt.  I could not be more blessed to have him as my eternal partner.  Louis is strong, funny, patient, loving, caring, and much more.  He is the rock in our family we would be lost without him.  Happy Father's day Louis!

 So I told Louis before I could give him his next surprise he needed to get the girls dressed for church.  Little did he know the the girls undershirts were the surprise!  Their shirts say "My Dad is Superman"

Here are the pictures I got for Louis.  (Avery took this picture!)

Here's a collage of what is in the frame.  I got the middle picture from this blog.

Did you all notice the Super-pig in the picture above?  It's a piggy bank.  I also got that for Louis for Father's Day.  I got it months ago, and planned on filling it up before I gave it to him, BUT he found it early!  We did get it mostly full though!  Happy Father's day to everyone out there!  I hope it was a wonderful day!  To end this post here's the super cute video of Avery and Mary!  

Avery's laugh at the end, oh man it makes me smile every time!