Happy Birthday Maycie Lin!

I cannot believe Maycie is already
TWO years old. It has gone by so
fast. Maycie is very sweet and sassy!
She loves to eat with her mom, color
with her big brother, and fight with
her cousin Shiloh!

Rodeo Season

I got to go on a date with Tase to Strawberry
Days this summer- though he was more
interested in making his own buddies rather
than hanging out with his mom. And then I also
went to the Lehi Roundup with my favorite
friend Lindsey and Lacie. We love rodeos at
our house!

Tayson's First Day of School!

Tayson first day of school was great! He loves his new
teacher Miss Lynn, he loves his new classmates, and he
especially loves riding the BUS!! Doesn't he look so small
in front of that huge school. The last picture is of a project
we got to do all about Tayson.

Girls Vegas Trip!!

Back in July my mom took us on a girls trip to Vegas
I decided to start with the most important part of the
trip. The Food!! We ate at the Bobby Flay Restaurant
MESA GRILL! I don't think my mom has ever seen
her girls so happy!! Look how beautiful the food is! The
pic of my mom is not from Mesa Grill it is a huge burger
she ordered at our hotel.

More food and fun

Amazing breakfast buffet at the Venetian! We definitely
at our moneys worth. It was so yummy!! The last pic is
the MGM Lion.

Shopping and Hanging out at the pool!!

Don't worry I know my shades are awesome!

La Reve Was Amazing

Aren't my mom and sister beauties!!

Check out my sister- She is famous!!

http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=71&sid=7670729

I Did it!!

I have no pictures only a video of me finishing(will hook it up later) but I ran Hobble Creek Half Yesterday in one hour and fifty minutes!!!! I almost decided not to run because when Mike's work schedule got so crazy we basically stopped training but at about three on Friday afternoon I decided I for sure was going to do it. My night before race meal was three hot dogs and a bowl of cereal I'm pretty sure that third hot dog is what helped me cross the finish line! I also got to run with my cousin Jess the first few miles which was so fun!

Right after the race I had to hurry and shower so we could go to the Monster Truck Rally which was sweet! Right after that we hurried off to our Trace Adkins and Toby Keith Concert that was so so fun. I will post pictures later when I can walk to get my camera!

Thanks to Mike and the kids for coming to watch me finish!

NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR!!

So my sister turned me on to this show and of course like any other reality show I see I became addicted. Well I made the Four Step Chicken and the Individual Gratin Potatoes from the finale and they were so delicious. I can't even tell you how good and my whole family loved it. It was so easy to make too!




Flexible 4-Step Chicken for Family and Company - Rustic Lemon-Onion Chicken

* 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, sliced in half crossways (butterflied, cut all the way through)
* 1 teaspoon dried thyme, plus 1 small bunch fresh thyme, leaves chopped
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 4 tablespoons olive oil
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 red onion, thinly sliced
* 1/4 cup white wine, optional
* 1 cup chicken broth
* 3 lemons, juiced
* 1 to 2 tablespoons butter
* Spinach "bed", recipe follows

Directions

Season chicken with dried thyme and salt and pepper. Heat a large saute pan over medium heat and add the oil. Dredge the chicken in flour, add to the hot oil and saute until cooked through. Set chicken aside to rest on plate tented with foil.

In same saute pan, over low heat, add onions and fresh thyme and cook until aromatic.

In a measuring cup, measure out wine, if using, and broth, and add the lemon juice. Turn the heat up to high, and deglaze the pan with the broth mixture until starting to reduce.

Remove the pan from the heat and finish the sauce by whisking in butter. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Place a bed of cooked spinach on a serving platter, top with the chicken. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and serve.

Spinach "bed": I didn't make this but I bet it would be great with the meal.

* 1 bag pre-washed fresh spinach
* 3 tablespoons water
* 1 tablespoon butter
* 1 lemon, juiced
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Microwave spinach in a microwave-proof dish with a few tablespoons of water on high for 5 to 6 minutes, or until hot. Drain, and toss with butter, lemon juice, and salt and pepper, to taste.

5-Minute Individual Potato Gratins

* Vegetable spray
* 2 large russet potatoes, roughly peeled and thinly sliced
* 1/2 cup grated Swiss cheese
* 2 green onions, finely chopped
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 3/4 cup heavy cream
I also added a little bit of cheddar to the mix!

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Spray 8 muffin tins with vegetable spray. Layer potato slices, cheese, and onions into each muffin cup. Season with salt and pepper and top each gratin with 1 or 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Cover with foil and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, removing the foil halfway through cooking time. Invert gratins onto plate and serve.

Letting Go

Has there ever been someone in your life who seems to always let you down? The kind of person who you really really want to change and so over and over again you put your trust in them and you give them just "one more chance" and every single time they let your down? And each time they let you down it seems to hurt more and more and it actually makes you feel pretty stupid for trusting them again? I had someone like this in my life and I use to blame myself for being so stupid to trust them and for believing what they were telling me. Well I have finally given up on them. I guess that is not a very good term since we are not supposed to "give up" unless its a bad habit which I believe in this situation it was. I will say that I have finally let go. I know lots of people say "I don't care anymore, I'm over it". Well, I really don't care anymore and its like I just feel a sense of freedom like I don't have to care anymore. So, if you have someone like this in your life I strongly suggest maybe not "giving up on them" but just "letting go"! Hope you all have a great 24TH!!

Lin

4th of July

I stole these pics of my cousins blog for two reasons.
1. I am at work and cannot access my pictures
2. I have no pictures from the 4th because Maycie hid my camera battery charger and my camera was dead. Thanks Jess!
So the 4th was quite busy. On friday we got early to go see the hot air balloons. Tase loved and Maycie was shaking with fear everytime they blew the fire. After the balloons we went to breakfast at Callies MMMM! Yummy! Then a fam party at with Mike's family and the kids did sparklers and loved it. Saturday started off with gandalfo's at the parade. Tase made his own shirt and we all were dressed up quite festive. I love dressing up for any occasion. We then went to 7Peaks with my moms whole family which was so much fun. I had to work that night at Chili's but ended up getting off early cause guess what, noone wants to go out to eat after dark on the 4th of July Weird huh?!? So we went to the park and watched fireworks with my mom, Mike's mom and sister and the kiddies! It was such a fun day!

Happy Birthday to the best sister ever!!!

My sister is the most caring person I know. You will never meet anyone who is so concerned with the well being of others. Lisa can always find something good about the worst person or situation. She is an amazing sister and mother. I have no idea how she always keeps it so together. She works full time, is a full time student, and the best mom ever oh yeah not to mention her house is always perfectly beautiful-unless Chris has been home for the day:) and she is always happy to whip up something yummy for someone hungry. I just wish I lived in Salt Lake so we could show up at her house around dinner time everyday. I don't know what I would do without my only sister. She has always stuck by me and never even come close to giving up on me. I will always look up to my sister and strive to follow her example. I hope you have the best birthday ever Lis!!!!

Congratulations Laners!!!

My little brother graduated from Orem High last Thursday. Great job Lane! Yes, that is my daughter with her finger in her nose. It has been her new favorite thing ever since she discovered that her finger is the perfect size to fit in her nose she just sticks it in there likes to just hang out with her finger in her nose. Lovely.

Random Pics from Cali- I know it has been a while

I am ready to pitch a tent and live on the beach with my family forever. Chris was pretty much a trooper crowds, traffic, tired crying babies- I'm sure he was just in heaven. Thanks Lisa and Chris for letting me and Tase tag along.

Disney

Disneyland was a little crowded. I would have been happy to just spend the week at the beach but Tayson was in heaven. I love the picture of him staring up at Goofy. He loved the rides he was not scared of any of them I had no idea he was going the love the roller coasters so much. One ride he was barely a quarter inch too short so we took of his socks and rolled them up in his shoes and he was so excited to be able to go. There was a race car ride where they give you a "drivers license" and I have always told Tayson he can't drive my car cause he doesn't have his license and now he is convinced he can drive my car it has been a bit of a battle.

SeaWorld

SeaWorld was a great day except that right when we got there at about nine when it was still a little chilly we went to see the Dolphins and they thought it would be funny to splash Shiloh and Tayson- they got soaked and for the rest of the day they were worried about getting splashed which is pretty much what everything at SeaWorld is about.

Califorinia

Back in APRIL(I know I am awsome at updating my blog promptly) Tayson and I went to California and we had SO much fun. There was ALOT of driving and Shiloh and Tayson did get a little agitated with the car and each other by the end of the week. Tayson absolutely loved the beach. I can totally picture him growing up and being some type of beach bum(I know high expectations coming from his mother.)