Update

Has it really been three months since my last post??

Crazy.

Well, here's what's happened in the meantime:

Turned 34. Blah.

Had the opportunity to maybe work for my company in Germany!!!!
Didn't happen. Blah.

Found out our landlord wanted us out after 4 years.
Couldn't find a place anywhere in Rexburg that fit our needs.
Moved to Rigby (15 miles away and closer to the "big" city of Idaho Falls).
On New Year's Eve. Blah.
Things were getting packed last-minute so we have no idea where anything is.
Have you ever watched Hoarders?
That's what our place has looked like since we moved in.
Day 1 back to work after moving I couldn't find the shower curtain.
We just barely found the screws for the TV stand so we could set it up.
The dishwasher doesn't clean.
I spent today trying to descale that beast.
The washing machine doesn't soften.
The prior tenants put A LOT of laundry detergent in the fabric softener section. WHY?!
The world may never know.

So, that's our life right now.

Cleaning.

Unpacking.

Cleaning.

Unpacking.

Cleaning.

In other news, Evan started crawling over Christmas while we were in Seattle!

He also has his two bottom teeth.

And he's having trouble pooping.

I know you really wanted to hear that last bit.

So, if you're wondering why you haven't heard from us or why we aren't returning phone calls, it's because things are crazy right now.

Oh, and we might be moving to Utah.

Soon.

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Here is your Italian lesson for today:

Gnocchi – [nyawk-kee] little dumplings made from potatoes

In other words, little tender bites of heaven.

Get your taste buds ready!! The most difficult part of making this soup is sauteing the chicken. No joke.

What you need:

One 15 oz. jar of Newman’s Own roasted garlic Alfredo sauce (you can use another brand, but I highly recommend this one!!)

2 cups water

2 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded (we sauteed in olive oil and garlic salt)

1-2 tsp. Italian seasoning (I used two)

¼ tsp. each salt and pepper

One 16 oz. package of potato gnocchi (found in the pasta aisle)

3 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach

Fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Classic pesto sauce

What you do:

1. In a large saucepan, bring sauce, water, chicken, and all seasonings to a gentle boil.

2. Add gnocchi and spinach.

3. Cook 3-8 minutes until gnocchi float and are tender.

4. Top each serving with fresh Parmesan cheese and a tablespoon of pesto.

Mix, and enjoy!

This is especially delicious with Garlic Breadsticks.

Garlic Breadsticks (Olive Garden-ish)

These are SO easy!

What you need:

1 package Seattle Brown & Serve French Bread Sticks (we were able to find them
at both Wal-Mart and our local grocer)

Garlic salt (we always use Lawry's)

1 Tbsp. melted butter

What you do:

1. Heat bread sticks according to package directions so that they're golden brown.

2. Brush with melted butter.

3. Sprinkle garlic salt on top.

4. Enjoy with Zuppa Toscana, Beef and Barley Soup, or Chicken Gnocchi Soup.

Thank me later. :)

Stationery card

Picture Him Birth Announcement

Design your birth announcements with Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Rylin Redecorates

It always amazes me how quickly Rylin can transform this:

Into this:

Why do I even bother? :)

Everything Hurts

I promise I will post about baby boy's arrival. I just need to be able to have more than 1/2 hour to myself to sit and write it.

For now, everything hurts. My head. My eyes. My body. My boobs. My sleep. My sanity.

I sleep "better" in the rocking chair than I do in bed at night.

I don't remember nursing being this painful or taking as long with Rylin. Baby boy is in reality a barracuda. No seriously. He started sucking on his arm when I had enough after 1.5 hours. He gave himself a hicky. He's done that three times.

He won't take a pacifier either. :(

So yeah. Everything hurts.

Love

 [luhv]

1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person

One of my dear friends lost his mother the other day. She has been struggling with health issues for a long time, but that doesn't make her departure any less heartbreaking. To make it worse, he is halfway across the country from home and won't be able to make it back for several months. He is alone and grieving. My heart aches for him, as do the hearts of many others that have reached out to him virtually. But we all know it's not enough. There's just something about family that soothes the soul. 

My friend didn't grow up in the best of situations. I had a hard time believing it at first. He is extremely intelligent, candid, generous, humorous, fun-loving, and hard-working. He is one of those people that everyone should get to have as a friend. He challenges, inspires, uplifts, encourages, and pushes you to be a better person. And at the end of the day he will race you on tricycles down an aisle at Target. He's that wonderful. 

As I got to know him better over the years, I discovered he has all these amazing traits because of how he grew up. He could have easily become a bitter and hateful person. I am so thankful he took the higher road. He fiercely LOVED his mother despite the problems that arose. And that is what really matters at the end of everything: love. That should be our motivation for everything. True, selfless, Christlike love.

Even now as my friend takes the time to respond individually to the hundreds of messages he has received, he is showing that love for us.

I hope we all take the time to let people know how much we love them. It's the only thing that truly lasts.