Gobble Gobble

Happy thanksgiving! So I'm thinking better late than never right? Well I was really really excited this year because I got to be in charge of thanksgiving dinner! I was so excited to make a turkey. Although I did have some reservations about the cooking plan. I knew I wanted to brine it but I wasn't sure about the flavors. Also I knew I wanted to try a different cooking method then the standard all day long low and slow.

So everyone was a little nervous and let me just tell you there was no reason to worry...it was amazing!!! Mmmmm, I don't mean to toot my own horn or anything but I've never tasted meat this tender, juicy, and flavorful. So brine, brine, brine for 24 hours. Remove and rinse, rinse, rinse, inside and out. Dry and let rest room temp for about an hour. Rub down liberally with canola oil. Bake at 500F for 30 minutes. Tent with foil and turn down to 350F. Cook until temp is 161F in the deepest part of the breast. Remove and rest at least 15-20 minutes. Carve and devour the goodness. There are more subtle nuances if you're seriously interested leave your email in the comments and I'll email you the whole thing. Seriously it's so easy and so worth it.

Okay, enough about that. We also made some creamy mash potatoes, asparagus, sausage and apple stuffing, cranberry pear relish, and pumpkin pie. I also had lots of fun doing my table...on a budget. I used branches, berries, and leaves I found outside. Napkins I found on sale at Kohls. A drop cloth from Home depot for the table.  And pine cones I found outside for place card holders. It was so fun.

Here's my table.

Here's my brine. And I'm hoping someone has pictures of the beautiful turkey that I can post later.

We also had a wonderful time with our family celebrating Karli's birthday and baptism, the birthdays of my sister, brother, and grandmother, and my new nephews baby blessing. It was very busy! Welcome to the family little Mason, we love you!

Catch Up Catch Up

So obviously I haven't been posting regularly so I'll do a quick recap of some of the fall events we missed! We had family in town off and on a lot! Fall break, thanksgiving, and Christmas so that was lots of fun.

We went to a little pumpkin patch in pleasant grove with some friends, which as I mentioned is like cornbelly's but smaller and cheaper.

We went on a hayride then were allowed to hand select our very own pumpkin. Etta got one just the right size for her.

They had a huge bin of corn to play in which Etta loved!

They also had these kind of trampoline's which were perfect for little ones.

Then we had robbie's birthday which of coarse was started off by his favorite breakfast, banana french toast, on the you are special today plate!

Then we had a little get together with family and friends for our now annual Rob's birthday soup party. I made french onion, southwest pumpkin, white chicken chili, and hmmmm...can't remember the fourth. It was so yummy and then we finished off the night with lemon cream cheese, banana, and of coarse chocolate pie...another Robbie fav.

Then we had Halloween and as you see we were vampires! We went for cheap and easy, kind of a cop out I know, but we are lookin good though right?

We went to our ward party, a fun party up at the Magleby's cabin, and trick or treating with Etta followed by fun with the neighbors on actual Halloween. It was great!


Etta was a Lion, and she was certainly the cutest one I have ever seen.



We also took a little weekend trip to Park City with the Shaner's where I apparently took no pictures besides Etta and the frog! We swam in the freezing yet supposed 90 degree pool, went to the outlets, ate yummy food, and hung out with our friends. It was a blast, thanks guys!

So there's definitely more catching up to do but that's it for now! Tune in for Christmas!

Budding Beckham

Ok, so this isn't my belly but I thought it was pretty much the best, weirdest, and most disturbing thing I've ever seen. Seriously what we go through in the child bearing process is so bizarre. Have you seen the movie alien? Not a far stretch my friends. I have spent many a night thinking this little guy was going to find some way to bust out before his time. No joke, had I had a camera on hand I'm sure there are a few times my belly has looked just like this. 

With Etta I had to do "kick counts" because she was so chill in there we were constantly worried if she was OK. Well this little Juninho wannabe leaves nothing to be concerned about. There's no question that he is one healthy boy. I actually asked the doctor if something could be wrong...if he's trying to tell me something with all the crazy movement. I'm telling you since like 5 months it's been 24/7 kicking, rolling, punching, stretching, spasming, flipping insanity. This boy just might be more than I can handle. 

So if you can see my stomach bubbling, mutating, and morphing into strange shapes from across the room, don't be alarmed...apparently every thing's fine. This baby just floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.

Babies and Volleyball

As many of you know Volleyball season has started. Which means my husband is at work until seven o'clock everyday and is gone or working every weekend. He also coaches a club team so on Tuesdays and Thursday he's not home until 10:30. Hmmm...yikes! Another bummer is that normally I would go on at least one trip with the team but seeing how pregnant I am I don't think they'll let me! So I can't complain too much though because really it's only for a few months and the rest of the year is so flexible and fun. However it is particularly complicated this year because, hello...we're having a baby in like 6 weeks! 

So last time I was at the doctor I asked his advice on my delivery. I'm due on March 5th and with Elizabeth I was five days late. Rob goes out of town on the 10th. Do you see the dilemma? So the doctor suggested that with my routine pregnancies and labor coupled with this being my second child that they'd have no problems inducing me up to a week early. Honestly I'm a lot more keen on letting the baby naturally run it's coarse and come on it's own but having Rob there trumps those feelings. So I think we will actually be having this baby on March 1st! Considering I was thinking I would have him almost a week late this seems so much sooner! 

Anyway so we're getting pretty excited and I really have to get moving to have everything ready for this baby! So anyone who wants to go to Volleyball games let me know, the time is here and I won't even be able to go to half of them! And get ready to come help me with my craziness because this baby is coming ready or not and my husband is going to be MIA! Lots of love to all of our family and friends and I promise I'll be back blogging soon.

Sick :(

So Etta and I got colds last week. I thought we were getting better on Friday so we emerged out a bit Friday and Saturday but were we getting better? No, the tiny, ugly germs were yet to descend and they did Saturday night. We took Etta in on Sunday and they told us she had croup so she had to get a steroid shot to open up her throat. Then I took a dive that day and we've been pretty sick since then. The worst part being that we're bored out of our minds! We can't go anywhere, we can't hang out with anyone, and I don't even feel like doing the normal fun activities we do daily around the house. I don't even feel like blogging! So my triumphant return to blogging has yet to happen...again. But really...I haven't had a cold like this in years!! Blah. Anyway so Etta and I take 2 or 3 showers/baths a day to do something, watch lots of YBCR and Yo Gabba Gabba, and look at lots of books. Note I say look at them...I can't even read to Etta, one of her favorite activities, because I have no voice! Anyway, I was really really grateful to find out there are actually a couple cold medicines you can take when your pregnant. I thought it was all taboo, so that's been helpful. Also I just had my 32 week appointment and as my doctor pointed out that although I feel totally awful it's something that doesn't affect my sweet healthy baby boy which I am eternally grateful for. We feel very very blessed that he's growing well and everything seems to be on track. So hopefully we'll feel better soon and we can get back to having a life that includes leaving our home!!

New Creation

1. Graham Cracker

2. Very thin layer of Peanut Butter

3. Nutella, sweet sweet nutella

4. Thinly sliced Banana

5. Mini Marshmallows, don't scrimp on me here

6. Under the broiler until the desired level of golden brown toasted plumpicity is achieved

7. Just a touch of Caramel drizzled over the top 

8. Napkin

9. Milk

Oh me oh my.....