Jambalaya

 We had jambalaya for dinner tonight that I made in the crockpot and it was really good, and really easy!  I substituted Tony Cacheries for the salt, cayenne and hot sauce...  I just like the cajun flavor it gives.

 

Ingredients

• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) beef or chicken broth
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 2 medium green peppers, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 celery ribs, chopped
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1-1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 pound smoked sausage, halved and cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 1/2 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Hot cooked rice

Directions

• In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the tomatoes, broth and tomato paste. Stir in the green peppers, onion, celery, garlic and seasonings. Stir in chicken and sausage.
• Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or until chicken is tender. Stir in shrimp. Cover and cook 15-30 minutes longer or until shrimp turn pink. Serve with rice. Yield: 11 servings.

What was I thinking?

Yesterday was a horrible day of teaching.  I felt completely inadequate.  The students made me feel stupid and I just wanted to get out of there as fast as I possibly could.  They had to do a performance.  And it started out with them asking how to pronounce a word.  I told them how to pronounce it, but this one girl said, "but it is scored like this..."  I said yes, but it is pronounced just like it is scored, it just sounds a little differently.  Well, this started a whole cascade of how do you say this and that and why is it scored like this and that.  It was a disaster and I wanted to just cry.  But I didn't.  I just finished my lecture and let them go early.  I had had enough.  When I got to Justin's office I called him and balled and lamented and complained.  He listened and gave me advice and was very good at making me feel better.  But today I still feel crummy about it and am wondering why I ever thought I could possibly be qualified to teach a college course.  And now I have committed to teaching it in the summer too and what was I thinking????  But I am sure things will get better.  I am sure that I will get through this rough patch.  It just feels a little overwhelming today.  And I wish that I were not having to worry about what I have to teach tomorrow.

Menu ideas

We have been eating Hawaiian haystacks for the past 3 days.  The kids are kind of burned out.  But I wanted to use all that up.  I didn't want it to go to waste.  Now I need to make a menu for next week so when we go shopping on Saturday, I will know what to buy.  We are trying to stay on a budget and that means no last minute running to the grocery store to buy things.  What usually happens when we do that is that we spend at least $20 more than we had planned.  I would like some casseroles that I can make.  Any ideas?  No pasta.  I do that a lot, because it is MY favorite, but noone else seems to like it as much as me...  the olive oil in the blood must have thinned to much to reach my kids.  I think I am going to get a ham from Sam's Club.  That can last a long time.  Lots of great recipes for that.  I do have a chuck roast...  I need a good crock pot recipe for that.  Also, ground beef recipes would be nice.  I bought a lot of ground beef and froze it a couple of weeks ago and I need some new ideas besides sloppy joes and goulash...  Any easy dessert recipes would be greatly appreciated.  While I am not indulging, I do like to make a dessert on Sunday.  Justin restricts himself all week (He has lost 25 lbs) and likes something indulgent on Sun.  I made Lemon Nut bread this week and it was delicious!  I did have a small taste.  But everyone really liked it.  It is light and moist and would be great in the summer time.  So...  if you have any ideas, please let me know.  Direct me to your favorite website with recipes...  or just write one down for me!  Please!!!!

Just 2 more weeks!!!

Image credit: Bob D'Amico/ABC

I just cannot wait for Lost!!! 

 

Week 3 Begins

I lost the two pounds this week that I gained over the Holidays.  Thank goodness!!!  So I am back on track.  I tried to add the next level of my workout today, you are supposed to do that after 2 weeks, and I just couldn't do it.  I almost passed out.  If I had Jillian or Bob beside me, with a team of doctors ready to do CPR if I die, then I might have kept going.  But since I am by myself with a 2 year old climbing on my back when I do push-ups, I am just going to try it again tomorrow. 

I wish I felt a little less overwhelmed this week than I did last week, but this is not the case.  I still have tons of stuff to do.  But I feel a lot better when I watch 24 and realize Jack Bauer has it worse than me.  Here, he thought he was all retired.  He was going to move to LA with his daughter and granddaughter and go to the zoo on the weekends.  And then he gets pulled into a mess!  Granted, it will only be one day long... but what a day!  So, at least I get to sleep tonight, right?

Too Busy

Right now I should be exercising.  And then I have so much Primary stuff to do, that it isn't even funny.  I am avoiding doing it.  I know as soon as I finish exercising I need to get started on the Primary stuff.  And it just seems to be an overwhelming task right now.  I would rather just sit on the couch all day and read a book.  But I also have to volunteer in Hilton's class today.  I am feeling a little like I might have over-extended myself by teaching this class.  It is going very well, but the preparation time is a lot more than I had anticipated.  And the Chair just asked if I might be willing to teach again in the Spring.  I said, yes because it would take some burden from Justin so he can work on other things... but wow...  But the kids will be out of school so maybe it won't be so bad.  Plus I will have all of the lesson plans already done.   We shall see how it goes.  Right now I just feel like everything is too much.  Being the Primary Secretary at the beginning of the year is daunting.  We just got 4 new kids in the primary alone this past Sunday.  That does not include the nursery. Our ward grow exponentially weekly.  I may just take today off.  I may not be able to accomplish everything I want to.  It has been so long since I was able to finish a book!  I am used to reading several a week.  I have not completed one book in weeks.  I am reading a book that I really enjoy, but I just don't have time to read it.  Plus I have 4 others in a pile that I need to get to!!!  2 are library books that are going to need to go back, one is book group book for this month, and another is one a friend gave me that I just haven't gotten to yet, and I feel terrible about it.  It is her favorite book, and I know she wants to talk about it with me!!!  So I am going to get off of this computer, put on an exercising bra, and start my day...  I don't know what I will do first...  oh, I have to make a meal for someone tonight too and go to Bunco...  man, I have even more than I thought!  Okay, here I go.  I am going to take it one thing at a time...

My new Haircut

For my mom who doesn't have Facebook, this is my new haircut.  I even did my hair today because I had to teach.

Resolutions: Update

I have been so busy doing Primary stuff and stuff for my class and working out, that blogging is kind of one of the last things on my mind.  Yes, I have been working out this week.  I am doing videos.  It is nice to be able to do it in the comfort of my own home.  I am doing the Biggest Loser Boot Camp.  It is really good because you start up really slow and just add what you want as you get stronger.  I started out doing the 20 minutes and thought I was going to die!!!  Now, just 5 days later I have added 10 more minutes and it feels great.  I cannot believe the difference it makes in my day when I exercise.  I have so much energy!!!  It feels really good.  It always has.  I have always known this, but somehow, the idea of actually taking the time to do it has seemed daunting.  I just need to keep it up and remember that it is going to be worth it in the long run.  I am not going to profess that I am perfect.  I am probably not eating as well as I should.  I am working on it.  But I think the fact that I am exercising everyday is a big lifestyle change and will help me to be healthy. Not that I have been eating badly.  No...  I have a deal with my friend that I will eat healthy.  I am just not sure if I am eating the right amount of calories and stuff.  But that is going to come next once I get into the grove of exercising.  I want to start one habit at a time.  Another little hindrance is that I think I may be sick again.  Sore throat, cough, you know the drill.  At any rate, I am very proud of myself.  For an entire week I have worked out.  My goal was to do 3 days a week.  I am going to do it tomorrow too because I think it will be easier to keep it up if I keep going.  But I will not have time to do it in the morning before church on Sunday.  So maybe I will take Sunday off.  It is a day of rest, after all.  Today, I have to do the bulletin board for Primary.  I cut out 80 hearts yesterday...  Then, I think I will reward myself with an all-day reading fest of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  (Which is proving to live up to the good hype!)

Now, I am not expecting to lose 20 lbs in a week like they did on the Biggest Loser!  (What was THAT about?!?!)  Although, that would be nice.  But I would like to see a difference.  I am feeling it in my legs so I know something is working!  As far as the other goals...  the kids fighting thing has not even gotten off of the ground.  The scripture thing... not so much.  We are doing great as a family...  So I will keep on trying.  I have a whole year!  I think I am doing pretty well!

Christmas

Christmas Eve the kids are opening their jammies.    This is a tradition in our family.

This is the kids in front of the tree in their new jammies on Christmas Eve.  It was a very low key evening and we had a nice one.  Hilton was so excited!

This is the loot on Christmas morning.  Santa always leaves his presents unwrapped.  The big kids got the Wii and Lorelai got the doll stuff.  You can see our old computer in the background...  poor soul.

This was Lorelai after she put on Grandma and Grandpa Shuck's cool present.  The Dora boots are her favorite.  She always does this pose and says, "Tada!"  She also got a shopping cart that she likes to tote things around in.  Cute little Maggie is beside her taking in all of the fun festivities.  We love Maggie!

Snow forever

This is Lorelai and our next door neighbor, Riley.  They are waiting in line to be pulled on the sled.

This is Hilton getting pulled on the sled and going over the "ramp" created by Darren, our cool neighborhood dad.  He plays with the kids outside all the time.  He is pretty great!

This is the line of kids waiting to get on the sled.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

With the new year here, I thought I had better make a list of all of the things I would like to change in my life. Here is just a sampling of things I need to get done this year.

First of all, I want to change how I handle my children fighting.  I think what I am going to do, everytime they fight is make them sit down and write a list of 10 things they like about one another.  I am hoping this will help them to cool off a little and maybe take the edge off of the situation.  I really don't know if this is going to work, but I am going to try it.  Any other ideas for fighting kids?  Caroline and Hilton sound like they are going to rip each others throats out.  And sometimes they do resort to hitting.  Caroline does this more than Hilton. 

Second, I really want to make a better go at reading the scriptures.  We do it as a family pretty faithfully.  But I really need to do my personal scripture study better.  I just get doing other things and forget.  You know?

Third, the whole change my health thing.  I have been doing pretty well since my friend, Sarah inspired me.  She looks so fantastic and she is really good at supporting me.  So this year I have to make sure I eat better and exercise more and get rid of this pesky diabetes. 

Fourth, I need to do better at being organized financially.  I need to get all my bills organized and in one place so that I am not paying a bill on the day it is due and hoping I don't get a late fee.  I am horrible at this.  I also need a budget.  I know some of you are recoiling in horror.  I don't have a budget, I never have.  I have always just gotten to the end of the month with the hopes that we still have some money in the bank.  So I really am going to buckle down.  A book that I recently read called The Penny Pinchers Club, really made me decide that this needs to be a top priority.  So I am going to do it.

Those are my main concerns right now.  There are subcatergories in each subject, but I will do that in my own outline.  I have never been one to really set New Year's resolutions.  I have always been of the mind that they are a waste of time because noone ever does them.  But I am thinking that if I have it in black and white and take it one day at a time maybe I can change. 

Change is a kind of a touchy subject to me.  I have gone most of my life thinking that people are the way they are and can't really change.  The reason I have believed this is because people have proven this to me over and over again.  Sure, anyone can change for a few months or even a few years, but they always go back to the way they were.  Everyone always disappoints me by not changing.  But as I have done some scripture study lately, I have realized that this is not the way the Lord would have us see humanity.  People are people because of their ability to change.  No other species can completely change who they are.  And this cannot be the exception to the rule.  Heavenly Father created repentance because people can change.  I want to believe this.  People can change from good to bad, why can't they change from bad to good?  I know that a lot of people can't understand my lack of faith in individuals.  Especially people of this faith.  But when I have been proven right again and again that people don't change, even when they desire it with all of their hearts, it is really hard for me to get on the Mormon bandwagon with this one.  So, today I am going to take a leap of faith.  Faith in humanity, that people have the ability to change.  Faith in Heavenly Father, that he made us able to change so that we can be perfect.  And faith in myself, that I have the will power, strength and desire within myself to change.  It is going to be so hard.  I have been who I am for so long.  I don't know how I am going to do it.  I have tried and tried and failed and failed, so many times.  I don't even know what it is like to have real success.  But I will do my best.  That's all I can do.  But it really has to be my best.  Not just a little bit of my best. 

So here is to the New  Year.  May I be able to prove myself wrong and actually change this time.