My Scripture Study Inspiration

One of my New Years Resolutions for this year to have meaningful scripture study.  I often find myself (especially during the last six months) simply reading the scriptures and not really getting anything out of it because I didn't really put much effort into it aside from opening my scriptures and reading. 

I recently stumbled upon this blog:  http://theredheadedhostess.com/?tag=scripture-study-journals.  What an inspiring lady!  I am in complete awe of all of her hard work and inspiration that she has gained through creating these journals. 

For the last couple of years, I have had a journal in which I take notes from each General Conference talk, notes during Institute (when I used to go), etc., but it is not organized by topic, which would be extremely helpful, especially when I need to give a talk about a subject.  Don't get me wrong, I love re-reading what I have written and find it very inspiring, but having it by topic would be much better. 

So, inspired by "Shannon," I am going make my extra journal (that I happen to have already) into my Scripture Journal.  I'm going to pick a topic, study it, and take notes in this journal.  I can't wait!  I already have a list of topics I want to start with: 

• Gifts we are blessed with
• Zion
• timeline of Joseph Smith's Life
• History of the Church
• Prayer/Personal Revelation

I'm going to keep up with my old journal, too, as I find it very helpful to go through G.C. talks and take notes - and also so all of my notes from stake conferences, etc. are in one place.

:)

I'm Pregnant!

Much to my surprise, I found out I was pregnant a couple weeks after we got married. I was constantly tired and decided to take a pregnancy test.  When it came back positive, I was in absolute shock.  Sean was out of town and had mentioned that he may have to stay in NC over the weekend.  I insisted that he come home-I could tell that he was surprised by my insistence, but I didn't want to tell him over the phone and I was bursting to tell him!  Before we got married we had casually talked about how he wanted to be told when we were going to have a baby, and he said that he wanted me to surprise him.  So, this is what I made:

Ok, so not the craftiest thing I have made, but I was still in shock and didn't have much time (plus, my good scrapbooking stuff was already packed in boxes).  When he finally got home it was late and he insisted on getting settled (unpacking, starting his laundry, and even clipping his fingernails!).  All the while, I stood there patiently waiting for his undivided attention.  When he was finally done, we sat on the couch and I pulled out the gift bag.  When he opened it, he said, "Are you serious?  This is fantastic!"  He wanted to wait until Christmas to tell our families and friends.  It was so hard - especially not telling my mom! 

I ended up telling my mom the Monday before Christmas (December 20th).  Ethan and I were sleeping over at their house (to cut my commute to work in half) and I asked her if she was ready to be a grandma again... she just gave me a confused look and then I told her we are having a baby in July.  She started crying and was so excited!

This is what I made for our parents to open on Christmas morning:

Everyone is so excited for our new little baby!  The extra bedroom at our new house is already painted a soft yellow - which is perfect.  We don't have any baby things (aside from the rocking chair from when Ethan was a baby and a baby swing that a friend was giving away), as I gave all of Ethan's things away as soon as he outgrew them.  I can't wait to buy new baby clothes and things!

We told Ethan on Christmas Eve - at first he didn't quite understand, and then we showed him the ultrasound picture and it "clicked."  He looked at me and said, "You're pregnant? How come you aren't fat?"  Haha!

We will find out February 28th if it is a little boy or little girl.  I think it's a boy, but Sean and Ethan both really want a little girl.  Sean and I call the baby Gummy, because it looks like a gummy bear:)

New Recipe

Krispy Chicken
3-4 chicken breasts
1 env. dry ranch dressing mix
1 cup mayonnaise
1-2 cups crushed rice krispies

Preheat oven to 350.  pat chicken dry and brush with maynnaise.  Mix powdered dressing mix and rice krispies together.  Roll coated chicken in krispy mixture and place on a cookie sheet that has been covered with tin foil.  Bak for 1-1.5 hours.

**note: I baked it at 375 for 45 minutes and it was fine (guess that's what I get for reading the recipe only 30 minutes before I wanted to serve dinner!)

SURVEY SAYS:  keeper:)  Not one of Sean's favorites, though (he was, however, a member of the Clean Plate Club and did ask for seconds...)

Video!

About 5 years ago my friend Leanna, and her daughter, Kai, joined us at Reston Animal Park... Leanna took the video above and it is so cute!  I love hearing Ethan's baby laugh!!!

Another New Recipe

Two new recipes in two days:)

Baked Ziti with Sausage
1 (16 ounce) package dry ziti pasta
1 pound mild Italian sausage
1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 egg
1 large yellow onion, minced
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce,divided
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Italian cheese blend
1 teaspoon dried basil (optional)

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the ziti, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through (about 10 minutes). Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
3. While pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage, and cook and stir until brown, about 10 minutes. Drain sausage and set aside.
4. Stir together the ricotta, egg, onion, garlic, and oregano in a large bowl until well combined. Stir in the drained pasta, the drained sausage, salt, pepper, and 1/2 jar of the spaghetti sauce; mix well.
5. In the prepared baking dish, cover the bottom with 1/3 jar of spaghetti sauce. Layer 1/2 of the pasta mixture, 1/3 jar of spaghetti sauce, and 1/2 of the shredded cheese. Then layer the remaining 1/2 of the pasta, 1/3 of the sauce, and 1/2 of the cheese. Sprinkle with basil. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
6. Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, about 20 minutes. Uncover; return to the oven and bake until cheese is melted, 5 to 10 more minutes.

SURVEY SAYS:  Well, Sean is back in North Carolina for work, so only Ethan and I were able to try this recipe, but we both liked it:)

Recipe

Simple Shredded Pork Tacos

2 pounds boneless pork roast
1 cup salsa
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
tortillas

taco toppings (cheese, sour cream, etc)

Place roast, salsa, chilies, garlic salt, and pepper into crock pot, cover, and cook on LOW for 8 hours or until meat is tender.  (I cooked on high for 4 hours and then low for the last hour).

Shred pork and serve on tortillas.

SURVEY SAYS:  It was OK.  Sean really liked it, but Ethan and I didn't so much..

Crazy Hair Day!!!

Today is Crazy Hair Day at Ethan's school - so I spiked his... and he LOVED it!! :)

New Recipe Time

Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
1/2 of a 16 oz. pkg. linguine (I just used regular spaghetti noodles)
1 cup fresh or frozen broccoli flowerets
2 tbsp. butter
1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut int 1.5" pieces
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1.  Prepare linguine according to package directions.  Add broccoli during last 4 minutes of cooking time.  Drain linguine and broccoli well in colander.
2.  Heat butter in skillet over medium-high heat.  Add chicken and cook until well browned, stirring often.
3.  Stir soup, milk, cheese, black pepper and linguine mixture into skillet.  Cook until mixture is hot and bubbling.  Serve with addtional Parmesan cheese.

SURVEY SAYS:  definitely a keeper!  It was very good (and very easy to make!) - it was even good as left overs :)

Ethan's First Day at His New School

Monday (January 3rd) was Ethan's first day at his new school.  He didn't really get nervous until we got out of the car and were walking into the school.  He didn't want to hold my hand (I guess that's already not a cool thing to in the first grade!) but he did walk as close to me as possible.  We went to the office where we learned who his new teacher is, and then were escorted to his new classroom.  He was so brave and I was so proud of him! 

Ready to go!