#1 Birthday Present EVER

The amazing piece of amazingness you see above is what Steven bought me for my birthday.  It is a Garmin watch which does just about everything you need it to do if you are running outside and it even comes with a heart rate monitor.  This monitor connects with the watch and you are able to track how many calories you burn.  But more importantly, as you run it has a GPS system so it tracks your mileage, your pace, your time, and will beep if you get too far ahead or behind of your pace.  It keeps track of all your activities and goals and times.  And I cannot forget about the part where the timer will automatically stop for you if you stop running.  It just stops.  How incredible is that!!  The watch has it's own little computer and when you plug the USB port into the computer, you just lay the watch next to it, and it automatically updates and transfers all the info onto your computer.  I have never been so excited to run in my life.  And I work so much harder cause I am able to watch my heart rate.  It is amazing!!  I am running RAGNAR with my sister and 10 other girls in October in Vegas so this is the perfect training tool to get my ready for that kick in the butt event.  I am excited!

Thank you Steven for knowing me well (and being kind and wonderful) enough to get this for me. 

Recipe #6: Penne Pasta with Shrimp

I am the worst at this picture recording for the recipes.  I get going and completely space it on pictures.  I had the sister missionaries over for dinner the other night and was excited to try out a new recipe.  I was kind of in a hurry since I got a late start which is probably why I forgot to take the pictures.  It was a shrimp penne pasta with a green salad and french bread.  It was really good if I do say so myself.  You can always just add chicken if you don't like shrimp.  I will never be making this for a few special people in my life since they don't eat seafood so I will have to try it again with some other kind of meat. But here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 pound penne pasta

1 pound shrimp

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

One 14.5 ounce can tomato sauce

1 cup heavy cream

milk for thinning

1/4 cup chopped parsley

6 basil leaves, cut

salt

pepper

Process:

Bring a pot of salted water to boil and cook the pasta according to package directions.  Drain and set aside.  Begin by peeling and deveining the shrimp and rinsing with cold water.  In a small skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.  When the pan is hot, add the shrimp and cook on both sides until it is just starting to turn opaque, about 2 minutes.  Remove the shrimp to plate to cool.  Next, chop the onion and in the skillet, add the remaining butter and olive oil.  Chop the parsley and basil leaves.  Add the garlic and onion and stir to combine and cook, stirring occasionally.  This takes about 3 minutes to cook.  Pour in the tomato sauce and stir; reduce the heat to low.  Pour in the cream and stir well to combine, reduce heat to simmer.  Add the shrimp to the sauce and stir gently. Next dump in the herbs and stir.  Add the cooked pasta and stir gently.  If the sauce is too thick, you can add some milk.  Add salt and pepper to taste. 

I served with a green salad with tomatoes and cucumber (Carly did a wonderful job at assembling) and some french bread.  It all came together very nicely.

Birthday Extravaganza

I turned 25 Saturday and am now a quarter of a century older.  And the older I get, the less I care about my birthday (I know that is such a party pooper attitude) so I wasn't looking a ton toward this day...but it ended up being the best birthday I have ever had...why?  Because of Steven...

Steven took me on a hot air balloon ride.  I told him a long time ago how much I wanted to go on one and he remembered!!  It was amazing!  We went with about 12 other people including a group of girls from Australia.  PS...they don't say their /l/s.  And a couple anniversary couples and it was just really great.  It was a beautiful day and I couldn't have asked for a better birthday.  I wasn't scared at all and we even got up 7000 feet in the air.  I loved every second of it.

Here they are beginning to blow up the balloon

There were about 5 other balloons along with ours being blown up and it was super fun to watch.

Isn't that so cool??!!

I thought this picture was pretty awesome with the flame.  At the beginning of the trip I was wishing I would have remembered when Steven told me to bring a light jacket but when the flame got going, it warmed you up right away.  Our pilot was so funny and had been flying for 20 years.  He even extended our trip to an hour and a half.

This is about 7000 feet in the air and a view of Lake Pleasant.

After we landed, they treated us to a breakfast.  It was amazing.  We had a chocolate filled croissnat and a ham and egg quiche.  Am I spelling that right.  OH and apples and cheese. 

Here it is. 

It was the best day.  After the balloon ride, we went to the park and threw around the frisbee and the weather was perfect.  Not your typical June afternoon. We then did some shopping and had lunch and it was so nice just to not have to rush anywhere and spend time with Steven.  I am so grateful for Steven and making this day so special for me.  It was literally the best birthday I have ever had.  He is my best friend and I just love him!!!

Here are me and my cute nephews.  I love them too.  We had dinner and cheesecake and went and saw "Karate Kid"  It was actually super cute!! 

Thanks for all the birthday wishes from everyone.  I know I sound like a broken record but it was the best day for me!!  And I got the COOLEST birthday present in the WORLD so stay tuned for that because I will be posting about it.

Summer is HERE!!!

It is officially summer in Arizona.  It is so blasted hot.  It is only 104 and counting at the moment.  Yikes!!  I forgot what it was like to get into a car that is 130 degrees and turn on the AC to full speed to keep yourself from melting away.  Wow. 

So since it is summer...we swim....ALOT.  I go to my sisters when time permits and we lay out and Jack and Kaden swim...in the buff.  I hope this picture doesn't offend anyone b/c I think it is so cute.  (And even if it did offend you, I still wouldn't take it off.  JK)  But they REFUSE to put on their swimsuits and if you had to listen to Jack's high pitched wailing, you wouldn't force it either. 

Side not:  my roommate was kind of interested in the guy named JK.  That was his name.  Luckily it only lasted 2 days because I could never have him over and seriously call him JK.  I mean seriously??!!  Who in their right mind names their child JK?  I think it may be short for something but that is besides the point.

Kaden didn't realize he was defeating my full purpose of laying out and keeping both sides even...but what the hay...he is only 3!

School is out and I got a job at Old Navy.  So far so good.  The first week I thought my back and feet were going to fall off with all the standing and walking...but I am good to go now.  The pay checks are quite smaller then my normal ones...but at least it keeps me busy and it is something.  It is kind of funny though because some of the workers like to treat it like rocket science and I just want to say:  "It is just folding clothes people!!!"  Oh well.  I will not judge.

My Mom and I are going to Utah June 30th-July 9th to see my Grandma and BYU is allowing me to observe in their speech clinic to obtain my extra 25 hours for my speech tech license.  This is a huge blessing b/c that NAU class was cancelled and it saved me $1000 so I am so happy.

This week was a very difficult week.  Maybe the hardest I have had in a very long time.  But I just know that everything works out when you do the right thing and follow the spirit.  I still pray to know what to do with big decisions in my life and that I will be directed down the right path.  I am grateful for loving friends and family who are very supportive.  I just have so much faith that everything works out they way it is suppose to even if it isn't what you want or it isn't on your timetable!

That is all folks. 

Oh no it is not.  One more thing.

My roommate Sarah's birthday was last week and we celebrated by going to "Farm Grill"  It was amazing.  The BBQ Pork Sandwhich was heaven.  I couldn't get over the toasted bun.

But Sarah is a breeze to live with.  Literally a breath of fresh air.  She is so pure in heart and so kind and the most nurturing girl I know.  I am so grateful for these 2 girls. 

I LOVE THEM!! 

Dallin's Graduation

My youngest brother Dallin graduated from Mesa High Thursday night.  Luckily I was able to get off work early so I could make it there in time to see him walk.  And the best part was since Dallin was the 5th child to graduate from Mesa High, my family was able to sit on the field.  My parents were so happy cause they got a reserved parking place and they introduced all the parents.  It was super sweet.  It is the best way to attend a graduation and the weather was amazing.  On my graduation we had a dust storm so this sure beat that.  My Mom is so sad she doesn't have any more kids at Mesa.  Oh well.  Carry On!

These are his super cute friends. 

Isn't my Mom so cute????

Happy Graduation Dilly!!! 

Recipe #5: Chicken Spaghetti

I made Chicken Spaghetti from "The Pioneer Woman Cooks" a couple weeks ago and it was really good!!  I ate the left over for lunch at work the next 2 days after.  It is a perfect dish for a big family.

Here are the ingredients:

1 cut-up fryer chicken

1 pound thin spaghetti broken into 2-ince pieces

One 4-ounce jar diced pimientos, drained

1 small onion

1/4 cup diced green pepper

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

2 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese

1 tsp seasoned salt (I used Lawry's)

black pepper to taste

1/8 to 1/4 cayenne pepper

The Process:  Preheat to 350 degrees

Add the chicken to a stock pot.  Cover with water and bring to boil.  Reduce heat to medium and simmer until the chicken is cooked, about 25-30 minutes.  Then Remove chicken and set aside to cool.  Remove 2 cups of broth from the pot and set aside.

Bring the remaining broth back to boil and add the spaghetti.  Cook it al dente.  Drain the spaghetti, discarding the cooking liquid.  Set aside.

With your fingers (or 2 forks) remove the chicken from the bones.  Shred or cut into bite size pieces.  Drain the Pimientos.  (sorry this picture is kind of disgusting). 

Dice the vegetables.  Dice the green pepper and onion. 

Place the cooked spaghetti into a large bowl and add the cream of mushroom soup.  Add 2 cups of cheddar cheese then add the green pepper and onion and pimiento.  Add the black pepper and cayenne pepper (I didn't but that is b/c I forgot it at the store.  It will just add some heat to your dish:)  Finally add the chicken and the broth.  Stir well together and check seasonings. 

Pour the mixture into a large baking pan and top with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.  Bake for 35-45 minutes or until bubbly. 

Yum!!

And Enjoy!! 

Dallin got a job at QT.  Go visit him.  He is on Val Vista and Main.  He is very excited for his 1st job to raise money for his mission.  And buy shoes.  I swear this boy knows how to buy shoes.  Sounds like a girl.  Just Kidding. 

Happy Weekend!

Lymphoma Run

So we had our first Annual Lymphoma Run on Saturday.  I am so grateful for those that came and helped and ran and supported.   We had a lot of fun and I am so happy I did it.  I know our donation will be very helpful to someone. 

Here are me and my sister Rachel.  We actually have the same exact running shoes and didn't plan it at all.  Steven bought these for me a few months ago.  My sister, right before her triatholon, was so excited to show me her new purchase.  She had them fitted and everything and wouldn't you know...they were the same exact ones I have.  She didn't think it was as funny as I did:)

Some of the supporters...

Rachel and her friend Jessica

On your marks, get so....GO!!!!  ( I love the way Rachel and Jessica are watching Amy in this picture....hahahahah)

And they are off....

Stacie and her family went to New York for a week, so this is Jesse (Stacie's fiance) coming to support.  And he even helped with the idea of having this run!

Me and Amy.  I dragged Amy around all Friday helping me get ready for this.  She was great!!

Erica and Jennifer

Thanks for coming.  And a special shout out to Dave and Sister Linford for coming and helping me announce and just being a support.  They helped the time go by faster as we waited for all the runners to run back.  My right foot has been killing me for about a week now and I was afraid I had a stress fracture and I had the 24 hour flu the day before so it was a rough weekend.  I didn't even get to run but it hurt so bad, I dared not in case it could get worse.  Laugh it up, but it is true.  And my Mom was throwing up the night before and couldn't come. Stacie was away in New York.  And....Steven was in Brazil so we pulled it off the best we could with 3 main supporters out for the count.  I still think we did a great job!!!  It was a good learning experience on how to do it better for next year.

Thank you for coming.  It meant a lot to me and I am excited to do it again next year!!