Yea for Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the Lego Family!

(also pictured: Sophie & Nana. Don't worry. Only some of those tattoos are real.)

Recipes - Main Dishes

Here are my staple recipes (meaning they're super easy since I make them often)

Stroganoff
(Gook Housekeeping)

1/2 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove-minced
1 lb ground beef
2 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 can Cream of Mushroom (10.5oz)
1 cup sour cream
1/2 package egg noodles

Cook onion & garlic in butter until golden (about 3 min). Add beef, flour, salt, & pepper. Cook, stirring, until meat is browned (about 7 min). Stir in soup-heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low & simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in sour cream and heat, but don't boil.

Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions.

Chicken Squares
(Xan A. - Ward Cookbook)

3 oz cream cheese-softened
2 Tbsp butter-melted
2 cups cooked chicken-shredded
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp milk
1/4 cup green onions (recipe actually calls for 1 Tbsp chives or onion)
1 pkg crescent rolls
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 Tbsp butter-melted

Preheat oven to 350. Combine cream cheese & butter until smooth. Add chicken, salt, pepper, milk, & onions. Separate rolls. Stretch a little. Fill with 1/8th of filling & roll. (Most recipes have you press 2 rolls into a square before filling, but I like to have more, smaller rolls). Brush with butter & dip in bread crumbs. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Note: I usually don't have bread crumbs, so I just skip that part. I've also made this with Grands biscuits.

Fajitas

(Better Homes & Gardens)

12 oz beef flank steak or chicken - bite sized
1 cup red or green pepper-cut into thin strips
1/2 cup onion - cut into rings
3/4 cup tomato-chopped
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 Tbsp Fajita seasoning (pkg or homemade)
4-6 tortillas

Fajita Seasoning
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp red pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp onion powder

Place meat in a bowl & sprinkle with 2 tsp of seasoning. Cover & chill for 1/2 hour.

Wrap tortillas in foil & put in 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp oil over med-hi heat. Add peppers, onion, & remaining seasoning. Cook til crisp-tender. Remove from skillet. Add meat and more oil if necessary. Cook & stir 2-3 min until done. Drain well. Add onion/peppers and tomatoes. Cook 1 minute or until heated through. Remove from heat. Add lime juice. Serve with tortillas & if desired, sour cream, guac, etc.

Baked Ziti
(My own invention)

1 pkg rotini (spiral noodles)
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1/3 lb cheddar cheese-shredded
salt, pepper, & italian seasoning
Optional: cottage cheese, mozzarella, cooked zucchini, browned ground beef

Cook noodles according to package. Preheat oven to 350. In a 9x13 pan, combine sauce, seasonings, & half the cheese. Add any optional ingredients. When noodles are done, drain and add to pan. Mix well. Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, and bake for 5 additional minutes.

Hamburger Hash
(Jake's mom Kim)

5-7ish potatoes
1 lb ground beef
1 pkg brown gravy mix
1 cup water
salt & pepper

Brown beef in skillet. Remove & drain juice. Add potatoes to skillet & cook til almost fully cooked. Add gravy & water. Add meat, salt, & pepper. Cook til potatoes are done.

Chili
(Friend from Tempe)

3 cans dark red kidney beans
1 can diced tomatoes (28 oz) or fresh tomatoes, but add extra water.
1 onion-diced
1/2 to 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
1 pkg chili seasoning

Cook in crock pot til hot. (Can also cook on the stove-just brown beef ahead of time)

Journal Jar #21: Food

What is my favorite food?
When I cook for my family, what do I enjoy making most?

I'm going to have to go ahead and say that my favorite food is chocolate. I admit it. Other sweet things I love include ice cream and homemade cream puffs (both of which usually include chocolate).

As far as non-sweet things, I seem to have a love for oriental soups. My top two: Thai Tom Ka Gi, and Vietnamese Pho. I also love fresh Mexican food, authentic Mexican food, sea food, and a good steak and potato meal every once in a while.

When I cook, I really enjoy baking. However, baking usually isn't healthy. So let's talk about healthy-ish foods. There aren't a lot of meals on my recipe rotation. I find myself making beef strogonoff, chicken squares, fajitas, baked ziti, and hamburger hash on a regular basis.

Twinners

Journal Jar #20: My Bedroom

What does my bedroom look like?

Do I share a room? Am I comfortable in my room?

My bedroom is a master bedroom with a walk-in closet and light green walls. I have dark brown window curtains and during the winter months, a dark brown and light green comforter. I love to decorate, but somehow never got around to decorating my room. I think my bedroom is the hardest room to decorate for some reason. It's like I don't want to make a permanent decision about it, so I just avoid it all together. Like having nothing at all is better than trying something I may or may not like.

Anyway, on to question #2. Yes, I currently share a room. Growing up, I also spent time sharing a room with all 3 of my siblings (separately). I was the last person in my family to have my own room - gaining that right at age 16.

Even though I haven't decorated my room, I'm very comfortable in it. I love my bed. It's so soft. When we got back to our house after living with my parents for the summer, I just laid down on my bed and sighed. I was so glad to be back to it.

Animal Noises

(Jake and Sophie reading a book with flaps together)

Jake: What's near the light bulb?
(Sophie lifts light bulb flap)
Jake: A moth! What's hiding in the grass?
(Sophie pulls down the grass flap)
Jake: A snake! Sssssssssssssss.
Sophie: Sssssssssssss
Jake: Yea! That's right! A snake! Ssssssssssss.
Sophie: Sssssssssssss
Jake: Abbie, did you hear her? She made a snake noise!
Abbie: Yeah, that's awesome!
Jake: Sssssssssssss
Sophie: Sssssssssssss
Jake: (continuing with the book) What's inside the shell?
(Sophie lifts the shell flap)
Jake: A snail!
Sophie: Sssssssssssssss

Sophie's First Birthday Party

To celebrate Sophie's first birthday, we had a little party at Nana's house. I wanted to make her a mini double-layer round cake, so I baked 2 9-inch round cakes, and cut smaller circles out of them. And then, wouldn't you know it, I was able to put the remaining 9-inch crescents together and form an "S", so everyone else was able to enjoy Sophie's "S" cake.


Here is the progression of the cake:


Awesome, right? We then took this little one in for a quick sink bath and a change of clothes, and moved on to opening presents. Sophie got a big doll and a little doll and some cute clothes. She loved all of it.

Help from Mabel & Oliver

Poking her new baby's eyes out

Approved!

Picnic at the Park

Last Saturday, in between General Conference sessions, most of my family got together at a park near my parents' house for a picnic. It was a last-minute decision and it turned out to be a lot of fun. Sophie especially liked the baby swings.











This is a gesture that Sophie invented. Chin up, wrist high in the air or behind the back. It basically means that she's really excited about whatever she sees. It most always applies to seeing a person, such as a grandparent.

(Cathy, Nana, Abbie, Stephanie)

It looks like I need to get myself a pair of big sunglasses.

What Can I Say? We're Fans

Last Thursday, Jake, Sophie, & I went to the Diamondbacks game. Jake's brother and dad, and my sister Cathy were also there. It was their second playoff game against the Cubs. We had a great time. We were in deep nosebleed seats, but it turned out to be quite the advantage. The game started at 7 (aka: Sophie's bed time) and turned out to be the LONGEST game in baseball history. It ended at 10:54. BUT, since we were at the top of the stadium, there was a lot of room to roam around. Plus, how awesome is it to watch an entire baseball game without having to move your eyes or rotate your neck at all?

Sophie spent the majority of the game playing at the top of the stairs with me, Jake, or her Grandpa Bard.


I made her this sign, and to our surprise, she spent a couple minutes just holding it and waving it around. And then she ate it.

The First Year

My baby turned one yesterday! Tomorrow I will have more highlights from my weekend, including Sophie's birthday party. But for now, enjoy seeing her grow over her first year of life.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Comprehension

I've noticed lately that Sophie is beginning to really understand what things are. For example, she picked up her shoe the other day, and instead of it going directly into her mouth like usual, she tried to put it on her foot.

Yeah.

Like a big girl.

And this morning, we were playing with some of her toys, and this is what she did:


Again. Like a big girl. Who exactly does she think she is?

But to really top it all off, I need to show you this:

Now, how big is that?

The "In" Guide: Fall Decor

I know what you've been thinking. "I wish Abbie would tell us what's 'in' these days". Well, your wish is granted. First up: Fall Decor.

And if I may be so bold:

Pears are the new Apples

This season, it's all about the pear. Say goodbye to your fall fruit bowl filled with apples, and hello to beautiful pears. Pears come in a variety of colors, look great paired (get it?) with pumpkins, and offer plenty of recipes to suit your fall food needs. An example: Pear Walnut Salad.


Enjoy decorating in style!


* photos from BH&G, Pottery Barn, and my house

8 Simple Rules

There's a new Sheriff in town,
and her name is Sophie.

Her rules are simple.




1. The coffee table must be cleared off at all times.






2. Any newspaper found on said coffee table must be hand shredded immediately.





3. All books must be opened and read.








4. Due to an unseasonably high stink time, all diapers must be changed at least 5 times daily.






5. Bags and wallets will be searched several times a day, without prior notice.






6. Dressers and closets are also subject to search.






7. Door should not be left open. Or closed. They should always be the opposite of what they currently are.






8. All parents must be in a position to be easily climbed on/over at the Sheriff's convenience.






If you follow these rules, you won't have any trouble with her. If you don't, you're taking your destiny into your own hands.

A Video . . .

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Pay It Forward

This is a Pay it Forward Gift Exchange.

(my hand-stitched gift from Natalie)

I am participating because I received a beautiful handmade gift from Natalie, with the promise that if I accept it, I will pay it forward with my own handmade gift to 3 other people. Here are the rules:

You must be one of the first 3 people
to comment requesting to join the exchange.
The only thing you have to do in return
is pay it forward by making the same promise
to 3 people on your blog.
(So, you must have a blog to participate.)

I have yet to decide what I'm going to make, so it'll be a surprise. Good luck and happy giving!

Journal Jar #19: Learning to Drive

Describe Your First Driving Experience

When I was 15, my cousin Robin lived about a half a mile from my house. We enjoyed each other's company, but didn't have vehicular privileges to get to one another's houses. This often led to us "meeting half way", meaning we would each walk toward the other person until we met, then we would walk together back to one house.

One sunny afternoon, after conversing with said Robin on the phone, and agreeing to one of the aforementioned "meet half way" rendezvouses, I convinced my dad to let me drive his suburban for my half of the commute.

This did not pose a problem to my father, seeing as my half involved tiny residential streets with little or no traffic at all times. I got in the drivers seat, and while my dad was buckling up on the passenger's side, I followed all of the safety precautions learned in my Drivers Ed course. I adjusted my seat and mirrors, fastened my seatbelt, and checked my blind spots.

Then we were off. I pulled out of the driveway with ease. My dad must have been beaming inside, since his daughter - at the fragile age of 15 - was a driving pro. I headed down my street to the end, where I was forced to take a right. I used my blinker. We hit the end of the next street. Blinker again, and looking both ways, I headed left. As we proceeded down this street, we could see Robin fulfilling her part of the agreement, but on foot. Oh, I could see the envy in her eyes from 300 feet away.

"Is that Abbie in that hot '84 burb?" she was thinking, "She looks SOOOO mature. And popular."

We drove up to Robin, and she got into the back seat. Well, actually the middle seat, since it was a suburban. I'm sure she started gushing about how cool I looked and whatnot, but I don't remember the details.

I pulled a swift 3-point-turn and headed back home. Again, my dad was overwhelmed with pride. As we neared my house, as luck would have it, my mom and all of my siblings were in the driveway. They ALL got to see me driving WITH PASSENGERS. I approached the driveway, turned the wheel, and prepared to glide effortlessly into my parking spot. Everything looked good.

Everything except for the look of horror on my little brother's face.

I glided the suburban effortlessly into our other car. The wheel wells of each car skidded into each other, causing the worst car-crash noise I'd ever heard in real life. My dad may or may not have sworn at that point.

I froze. He told me to put the car in park. I did. I got out, and without even surveying the damage or looking back at Robin, ran into the house crying.


It turns out that the damage wasn't that bad - hardly noticeable. The cars just exchanged some paint. Needless to say, it took some time before I headed to the drivers seat again. And who knows when my dad will ever trust my driving.



What about you? Any awesome driving experiences?

Hide and Seek

I only left the room for a second.

When I came back, she was no where to be found.

I think back. As I left, I saw her heading toward the bathroom.

I look there first - but it was empty.

I turn the corner into the family room. At this point, I am in the fork in the road of my house. Do I proceed forward into the kitchen? Do I take a left and search the bedrooms? Right in to the den? Should I turn around and look in the office?

I become worried. This search could take a while with no direction.

I call out her name. (Calling out her name is usually followed by the sound of crawling knees scuffling across the tile).

"Sophie"

Nothing.

"SOPHIE"

Still nothing. Heart starts to beat faster.

I now have to make a decision at this fork.

But wait. I DID see her traveling in the direction of the bathroom. Could I have missed her in there?

I decide to open the shower curtain.

And that's when I see it.

THE MISCHIEVOUS GRIN

(dun dun dun)

Friday Fun

Friday was a day full of activities. We started the day early with a trip to the zoo. Sophie and I have never been to this zoo, so it was a great trip. We met up with Macey & Kiley for a morning of zebras, rhinos, & elephants.



While I didn't get any pictures with actual animals in them, we WERE really at a zoo. Sophie didn't really grasp the whole zoo concept, but she did like the giraffes and ostriches.

Then that evening, we went to the park for the beginning-of-the-year law school party. Luckily, Nana was in town, so we had a nanny to watch the little one while we mingled.












One of Sophie's new favorite games is peek-a-boo. Actually, it just seems like she doesn't like other people to wear her blankets on their heads.



p.s. Cathy: