The Very Hungry Mommy

Art Work

2011-05-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

How do you get mad at a cute little face like this!

When you r wall now looks like this!

It is our new living room art work!

Not what I had in mind.

My new favorite thing!

2011-03-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

I know you are looking at this picture and wondering what it is! It is my Pinterest! What is Pinterest you ask, well it is like a giant cork board on the internet. You can save all the cool ideas, pictures or what ever you find while you are surfing the net. It is very helpful to me and I love it! You can click on the image above and it will take you to my page. I believe the site is by invitation only so if you want an invite just let me know and I will send you one! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Glasses!

2011-03-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

This is my sweet "Plum" who is now wearing glasses! He has a lazy eye
(well two lazy eyes,but one is more dominate).

The official name of his eye condition is called starbismus- esotropia. The glasses are suppose to help the "lazy eye" correct itself. He doesn't need the glasses for his vision, but he needs to wear them from dawn to dusk to try and correct his "lazy eye". It took a while to get him to keep them on (he is only 2 1/2.) But he is doing pretty well with it now. We are on our second pair of glasses, because the doctor had prescribed a little bit stronger lens, it's a good thing he did because about a week after he broke the first pair of glasses. So now we have to be extra careful, I don't want to have to get another pair it's only been 5 months since we got the first pair.

He can be quite a ham!

We will be going in a couple of weeks to find out if the glasses are working or if he will need surgery. I believe it will be a very simple procedure, but non the less I do not want him to have to have surgery. We will keep you posted. Please say a little pray for him!

Cub Scouts

2011-03-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Since "Pear" has turned 8 he now is in Cub Scouts! He is really enjoying it.

Crazy boy! He loves to laugh and make you laugh with him!

Double Digits!

2011-03-27T21:15:00.000-07:00

Can you believe my baby girl is 10! We are creeping into the teenage years, although some days I think we are already there! "Apple" had a slumber party for her birthday, but being the great Mom that I am I forgot to take pictures. So let's use our imagination and envision 7 little girls running around my tiny house, man do they have a lot of energy. They were all asleep by 2:00am and up by 6:30 am. I was exhausted! (not to mention my little "Plum" had decided to wake up at 3:00am for an hour) Even though she had a wonderful time I think in the future we will stick to parties that only last a couple of hours and the kids go home and sleep in there own beds!

"Apple" on her 10th birthday!

2-9-2011

"Pear" Get's Baptized

2011-03-27T19:01:00.000-07:00

It is always a wonderful experience to have one of you kids get baptized. My "Pear" was baptized on January 5th, 2011. Although things didn't go quite as planed due to the fact that my grandma in Indian had passed away and the funeral was on the day that we had originally planed the baptism for I think it turned out to be special for "Pear".
"Pear" was baptized and confirmed by his Dad!

Snow Day January 3 2011!

2011-03-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

So I haven't been that great at blogging lately. I have started working and even thought it is only about 3 hours a day it sure does put a kink in my day. So back in January we had little bit of snow on the day the kids were suppose to go back to school from their winter break. Here in California if it snow we have a day of from school. They had a great time playing in the snow! This was "Plums" first time, he didn't last as long as his brother and sister but he thought it was pretty fun!

You can still see the snow coming down!

"Pear" had a good time working on the snowman.

My beautiful "Apple" .

"Plum" saying "Look Mom".

Christmas 2010!

2011-03-26T07:16:00.000-07:00

We had a GREAT Christmas! I love the holidays, but I think Christmas is my favorite!

On your marks, get set, GO!

The best part is to see the excitement of my kids!

"Pear" is 8

2011-03-26T06:03:00.000-07:00

Christmas birthdays are always hard! Trying to plan a party amongst all the holiday hoopla.
So we just kept it simple, cake and presents the important stuff!

12-11-2010

"Apple's" Chior Performance

2011-03-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

"Apple" has really enjoyed being in choir this year. This is from her Christmas performance (12-07-2010) with two of here friends.

I really enjoy going to see here preform!

New Beds!

2011-03-25T08:07:00.000-07:00

Back in October we had to move "Plum" from his crib to a "big boy bed". After being awakened at 2:00 in the morning by a 2 year old who was crying at my door, we decided it was time. I was kind of sad to move him out of his crib I had hopped to keep him in it for a while longer. He adjusted pretty well it only took about a week of him getting in and out of bed. He now for the most part stays in bed after we put him in! "Pear was petty excited to sleep on the top bunk too!

Here is "Apple" in here new day bed (courtesy of Grandma & Grandpa Wilson, I love hand me downs). She loves it and now we have an extra bed in the house.

MICROWAVE CARAMELS

2011-01-25T14:32:00.000-08:00

OK, so I know I have posted other Carmel recipes before but I really love this one. It is really easy and taste delicious! I got the recipe from my mom, but here is a link to where it is from Bake Space.

Microwave Caramels

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup Light Karo Syrup (not dark-doesn't set right)

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup SWEETENED CONDENSED milk

1 t. vanilla

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Buttered 8x8 baking dish

Melt butter in large microwave bowl.

Stir in Karo syrup, both sugars and sweetened condensed milk.

Mix until dissolved.

Microwave on high 3-1/2 minutes.

Stir down and scrape sides of bowl.

Microwave on high 3-1/2 minutes. (this will be soft-ball stage).

Stir in vanilla and nuts (if you add them at all).

Pour into buttered dish and refrigerate until set.

Cut into square and wrap each in wax paper. Enjoy!

2x4 Heart

2011-01-13T07:01:00.000-08:00

This a cute easy Valentine decoration too! I found it hear at Under my polka dot umbrella.

conversation blocks

2011-01-13T06:53:00.000-08:00

I've decided since I don't have as much time anymore (because I am working and trying to take care of my kids) that I am going to post things I want to make, and when I get around to making my own I will post pictures!

I saw these cute little blocks and I think they would make a great Valentines decoration!

I saw them here at Brown Paper Packages.

Joy Blocks!

2011-01-02T21:47:00.001-08:00

So this year I had a bunch of crafts I wanted to do before Christmas! This is one that I didn't get done until after Christmas, but it is going to be really cute for next year! :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2010-12-24T12:23:00.000-08:00

We hope you all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

LOVE

MIKE TAMMIE APPLE PEAR and PLUM

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T13:52:00.000-08:00

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family, friends and loved ones......our greatest blessings

2x4 Pumpkins and Turkeys

2010-11-17T18:50:00.000-08:00

As a Relief Society Activity we made these pumpkins and turkeys to donate to a Meals on Wheels group to use for there Thanksgiving dinner. I think they turned out really cute!

If you go here you can get the directions to make your own cute little turkey!

And go here to make the pumpkins!

Thankful Blocks

2010-11-14T15:18:00.001-08:00

I know that is not the best picture, but I had fun making these THANKFUL blocks! I saw the idea here! I was supper excited to find I had enough scrap pieces of wood to make these blocks and I made the stencils using the computer (well actually my hubby made the stencils using the computer, he is better with that stuff).
I love the month of November, because it reminds me of all the many things that I am thankful for! And during these hard times it is easy to forget that I really have a million things to be thankful for!

CrAZy hAiR DaY!

2010-11-11T15:06:00.000-08:00

"Apple" had cray hair day at school recently.
This is the crazy hair that her and her dad came up with!

2x4 frankenstein

2010-11-02T16:21:00.000-07:00

I know this is to late for Halloween, but maybe good for next year!
I found this idea here! Isn't he cute!

Fall Crafts

2010-10-31T21:45:00.000-07:00

Better late than never! These are a few crafts I made last month! I love the "BOO" blocks I think they turned out really cute! Thanks to my handy Husband for cutting out all the wood and to my Mom for letting me use here Cricut!

I think these are the cutest Pumpkins! Perfect for Halloween and Fall! They are so simple. They large one is made out of a 2x4. I got the idea for these from here . I have a few other crafts I am working on and will try and post them before the season is over! :)

First day of school

2010-08-12T21:49:00.000-07:00

I can't belive we have started another school year! Time seems to go by faster and faster! I would really like it to slow down! But I don't think there is anything I can do abiut it!

"Apple" is in the 4th grade now! My sweet baby girl is growing into a young lady before my eyes! "Pear" is now in second grade I don't even know how that happened he just starte kindergarted the other day! (LOL)

"Plum" turned 2!

2010-08-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

I can not believe my baby boy has turned 2! Why does time have to go by so fast? We had a nice little party for him just Mom, Dad, brother, sister and Grandma ("Nana") and Grandpa("Papa")!
Grandma made these cute little monkey cupcakes aren't they cute?

We have really enjoyed having this little guy join our family! He has such a happy personality and has brought us much happiness!

Fishing

2010-06-30T22:12:00.000-07:00

I loved being able to spend time with our Family in Utah! It is so Beautiful there and we would love to be able to move there! We went to a like to go fishing and out on some canoes! I love "Apples" expression when she thought she might have caught a fish, but no fish!

Bekah and I out on a canoe! I was a little hesitant but I loved it once I was out on the water!

"Plum" checking things out!

Isn't he cute!

"Apple" and Uncle Nathan

"Pear" and Daddy

Mike and the two oldest kids had so much fun that they went back the next day and spent just about the whole day on the lake! Mike came back with a really bad Sun burn!

Buoy Ball

2010-06-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

While we were horse back riding the lady house we went to had a Buoy Ball that the kids had a blast on! I'm not sure which they liked better the horse or the Buoy Ball! Love these pictures!

Hourse Back Riding

2010-06-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

During our trip to Utah we had the opportunity ti go horse back riding (Thanks Debbie)! This was my very first time going horse back riding and something that I have always wanted to do! It was on my "bucket list"! I had so much fun and can't wait to be able to go again! Oh and can I just say having your picture taken on a horse is not very flattering!

Here I am riding "Taffy"

"Pear" and "Apple" riding "BIG"

Temple Square

2010-06-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

One of the things I really wanted to do while we were in Utah was go to temple square! I think it had been at least 15+ years since I can remember being there! It has change quite a bit!

As you can see "Pear" is not all that excited to be there!

Isn't this a beautiful view! It is on top of the conference center!

Here is a view of the Salt Lake Temple from the top of the conference center!

The BEAUTIFUL Salt Lake Temple!

Grandpas new buddy!

Farm Country

2010-06-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

This summer we were able to take a trip up to Utah and visit Grandma and Grandpa Miller and some Uncles and an Aunt, and baby Ben! Besides spending time with family we visited a few places. One of the first places we went was to Thanksgiving point! There they had a small little farm and a dinosaur museum. We never made it to the museum next time!

"Apple", "Plum", Baby Ben and "Pear"

"Plum" riding the pony!

A minute later, guess he didn't like it!

"Apple"

"Plum"

"Pear" was grossed out that he got licked!

This sign is pretty funny! It says
"Please check the bottom of your feet for souvenirs"

"Apples" Awards

2010-06-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

"Apple" had a great school year! She received several awards for all her hard work! We are so Proud of you "Apple" !

Principles Honor Roll for 3rd trimester!
The principles Honor roll means she had to get all 4's on her report card!
(basically straight A's)

Honor Roll for the whole school year!

Good citizenship for the whole year!

"Pears" Field Trip

2010-05-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

"Pears" class went on a field trip the Grassy Hollow. It was a lot of fun! we went to the visitor center where they talked about the different wild life that lives in that area, like the black bear in the picture below!

We also went on a little hike that is part of the Pacific Crest trail. The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail that runs in Washington, Oregon, and California between Mexico and Canada. The Pacific Crest Trail is 2,650 miles, if you try to do this hike it could take up to six months from start to finish!

"Apples" Planet Report

2010-05-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

"Apple" had to give a report on a planet. She choose to do her's on Mars! We worked on it together she had to write it and give an oral presentation! She is in 3rd grade and I think she did a wonderful job! By the way she received an A on her whole project!

She had to make some type of model or poster on her planet Mars. We decided it would be fun to make a Mars cake! She helped make the cake and frost it. I thought it turned out pretty good!

Apples Field Trip

2010-05-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

"Apples" class took a field trip to a small observatory at our local community college. I was lucky enough to go with her and enjoy the experience! She was getting ready to do a report on the planet Mars so it was really neat to go and learn about all the planets!

The college is right next to a State Park and the have a fish hatchery there. All the kids had a lot of fun feeding the fish and watching them jump out if the water!

Roast chicken and gravy

2010-05-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

Not sure why I can't get this photo to load right,
so just tilt your head when you look at it! :)

I forgot to take a picture before we started eating it!
I just love how it came out all nice and brown!
It was very yummy! Two thumbs up!

Found the recipe here !

For the chicken:
1 3 lb whole chicken
4 garlic cloves, sliced lengthwise into thirds
1 sprig rosemary, leaves stripped off
3 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp Lawry's seasoning salt
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/4 tsp kosher salt
A few grinds black pepper

For the gravy:
All pan drippings
2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup flour

Set oven to 375 degrees.

Pat the chicken dry. Gently lift skin and loosed skin from the breast. Slip in garlic slices and rosemary leaves and distribute evenly over the breast.

With your hands, spread mayonnaise evenly over the entire chicken. With the breast side up, evenly sprinkle seasoning salt, poultry seasoning and salt. Add a few grinds of black pepper. Press toothpicks into the chicken where you loosened the skin to put the garlic and rosemary in. Place bird on the rack of a roasting pan. Cover loosely with foil. Roast for 2 1/2 hours, removing foil after one hour.

Remove roasting pan from the oven. With two fork, gently lift the chicken and set onto a cutting board to rest while making the gravy. For the gravy, pour and scrape all drippings from the roasting pan into a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken stock, poultry seasoning and red pepper flakes. In a small bowl, whisk together butter and flour. Once the chicken stock mixture is simmering, whisk in butter flour mixture. Gravy should thicken. Once thickened, simmer gravy for an additional 5 minutes. Taste and add salt if needed.

Once the gravy is finished and the chicken has rested, remove toothpicks, carve chicken and set on a platter. Serve chicken with gravy and rice or mashed potatoes.

Yields enough chicken and gravy for 5 servings.

Here is "Apple" enjoying a drum stick!

Everyone in the family loved this chicken!

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies!

2010-05-06T07:29:00.000-07:00

I love chocolate chip cookies, but have always had the hardest time making them so they don’t go splat on the cookie sheet! So I was very excited when I found this recipe. I made them and they actually have body to them they didn’t go splat on my cookie sheet and the best part is they taste delicious too! This recipe makes about 6 dozen, so there is plenty for you to share! :)

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Edges should be golden brown.

Chicken Pesto Pasta

2010-05-06T07:09:00.000-07:00

This was very good! I think next time I will use a little less pasta so there is more sauce!

You can find the recipe here!

3/4 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup pesto

1/4 cup grated parmesan

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 box cooked pasta

3 cups cooked chicken shredded or cubed

Cook and prep your chicken and pasta to your liking and combine in a bowl. Set aside.

For the sauce, bring your heavy cream to a boil, stirring constantly, it will come to a boil fast. Let this boil on medium heat for 4-5 minutes until it thickens up. Add your pesto and stir. Add your parmesan and stir until most of the cheese is melted in the sauce. Add your salt and pepper, not too much as the pesto and cheese have a lot of flavor by themselves.

Pour your pesto cream sauce over the chicken and pasta, and stir to combine.

Mormon Messages: My New Life

2010-05-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share this video! I found it very touching! I think she is a great mother and has been fighting hard to be a mother to he children, I admire her courage! Moms are great!
Stephanie Nielson, survivor of a near-fatal plane crash, shares her story of a beautiful life centered on faith in Jesus Christ and love of family. Here is her blog nienie.

The cutest skirt!

2010-04-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

My Super Model!

I found this simple cute skirt pattern here! It took me about 30 minutes to make! I think it was a little full for my supper skinny girl so I took off about 10 inches. The thing I love the most about this skirt is it doesn't take a lot of material and I already had all the stuff to make it! I think I might even try to make one for myself!

I just found another skirt I think I will have to splurge and go buy some material to make this one!

Steakhouse Wheat Bread

2010-04-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

This bread is so yummy! I got the recipe from my good friend Natalie, thanks Natalie we love this bread! This recipe makes one loaf! But I like to double it, because we eat the first loaf way to fast! Hope you enjoy this too!

3/4 cup warm water

1 tablespoon butter, softened

1/4 cup honey

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 cup bread flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/4 teaspoons bread machine yeast (rapid rise)

Place the warm water, butter, honey, salt, cocoa, sugar, bread flour, whole wheat flour, and bread machine yeast in the pan of a bread machine in the order listed. Put on regular or basic cycle with light crust. I just use the dough setting on my bread maker and then put it in a bread pan let it rise for about 40 minutes and then bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes!

What good Examples!

2010-04-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

I love these pictures! It just goes to show children are never too young to learn! We use to have "Plum" set in his crib while his brother and sister said their prayers, but one night before we could get him to put him in his crib he got on his knees for prayers!

Saying prayers with big sister!

Saying prayers with big brother!

Being sweet!

Chocolate Cavity Cake

2010-04-18T13:31:00.000-07:00

This is the best chocolate cake ever! This is my husbands favorite!

1 dark chocolate cake mix
1 package of instant chocolate pudding (3.9oz.)
16oz. sour cream
3 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup oil
1 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Grease and flour a 10in bundt pan.
In a large bowl combine cake mix, pudding, sour cream, eggs, oil and water, mix until well blended. Fold in chocolate chips, batter will be very thick. Spoon batter in to bundt pan and bake at 400 for one hour or until cake springs bake when lightly tapped. Cool for 10 minutes and then turn out and cool completely on wire wrack!

I used half of a chocolate ganache recipe I found here!

Awards, Awards, Awards!

2010-03-31T18:50:00.000-07:00

We are so proud of "Apple"! She was student of the month in March and also received three other awards ! For Citizenship, Honor roll and perfect attendance! She has worked really hard this year and is becoming a lovely young lady!

Student of the month!

Here she is receiving her citizenship award!

Honor roll!

Perfect attendance!
Keep up the good work!

Student of the Month

2010-02-19T14:01:00.000-08:00

"Pear" was student of the month in February!

He has been working hard all year and has been doing really well! He is at grade level or above in all areas! By the end of first grade the students should know 125 High frequency word and "pear knows over 300 words and still counting! We are so proud of his academic achievements!

He looks so proud!

Here he is being cool!

Happy Birthday "Apple"

2010-02-09T20:28:00.000-08:00

I can't believe my baby girl is 9! Can she stop growing up already? For her birthday she requested Chinese food and strawberry cake and chocolate frosting (which by the way is what I always have for my birthday and mint and chip ice cream).

I thought this was a cute picture of my babies! Aren't they cute!

Weave a Barrette

2010-02-07T12:12:00.000-08:00

I totally remember wearing these barrettes as a little girl! I had actually thought about making them for my daughter a while ago but thought they were too "dated"! Well the 80's are coming back, so I made some for her and she loves them! You can go Family Fun to learn how to make them! They are very easy to make and fast too!

One more Christmas post!

2010-02-03T08:38:00.000-08:00

I just had to share these pictures I took of he kids in their Christmas outfits! I have the cutest kids, all thought I am a little biased!

FHE in a jar!

2010-01-31T07:17:00.000-08:00

We made these cute jars for our Relief Society Activity in January. All you do is print up the sheets of paper cut them up fold them and place them in a jar and then on the nights you need a quick Family Home Evening all you have to do is pull out a slip, sing the song, read the scripture and discuss the topic that is printed on the paper! USe the links below to make your own!

The original source of FHE in a Jar on JennySmith.net.
I did have my husband do a little work on the document so that it did not use so may sheets of paper and put it in black and white. If you are interested in it just leave me a comment with your email!

I found some cute tags here or you can just click on the link below.

FHE in a Jar Tags (.pdf - Adobe Acrobat)

I just found FHE for a year that is geared for younger kids. It goes along with the Primary them for this year !
2010 Family Home Evening Lessons

Hope these ideas help!

Chocolate waffle cookies!

2010-01-29T10:38:00.000-08:00

(I am not a good picture taker)

I made these for a after school snack for the kids one day and they loved them!
Here is the recipe-
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 squares of unsweetened chocolate melted (or 6 tablespoons of unsweetened coco powder and 2 tablespoons of oil mixed together)
1 cup flour

In a mixing bowl cream butter and sugar; beat inn eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy. Blend in chocolate. Add flour, mix well. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 1in apart onto onto a preheated waffle iron. Bake for 1 minute. Remove to a wire rack and cool. Dust with powder sugar and enjoy!