Big Red

I don't believe I have introduced you to the newest member of our family......

For almost 8 years the hubs drove the same truck! Way to go!

 He was a great truck. He was (almost) always faithful. But it was time for him to leave our family, branch out, and try a new owner. Here he is:

 Not-so-nicely put....he was replaced by bigger, badder, and better :) 

I really am thrilled for Dakota! He deserves it. (And I like driving it too! hehe) It also seats all of us EASILY which is a huge bonus. 

The princess loves Daddy's new truck too :)

Man-Pleasing Pasta!

• I have a great recipe for you all today!! I made this pasta last week and it was just such a hit, I had to share :) Maybe you're thinking, "another pasta recipe?" I know, I know, there are so many out there....but this one really steals the show.

*Be advised, this recipe makes A LOT of pasta!! Its very money conscious as well....two pans of pasta with only 2 chicken breasts! Recipe makes two pans....one for immediate cooking, the other for freezing.*

Baked Penne with Chicken and Sun-dried Tomatoes

• 
  
• Ingredients
• 
  
• 6 tablespoons butter, plus more for baking dishes
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 pound penne rigate
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (8 ounces each), halved horizontally
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 6 cups 2% milk
• 10 ounces white mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 cups shredded jack cheese
• 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400. Butter two shallow 2-quart baking dishes. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta; drain, and return to pot.
2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper; cook until just done throughout, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Halve each piece lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise.
3. In a 5-quart heavy pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and garlic; cook, whisking, 1 minute. While whisking, gradually add milk; bring to a simmer, whisking frequently. Add mushrooms and tomatoes; cook 1 minute. Take off heat, gradually stir in jack cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan.
4. Add chicken and pasta to pot; season with salt and pepper. Divide pasta mixture between baking dishes; sprinkle each with remaining Parmesan.
5. Bake, uncovered, until top is golden and bubbling, about 25 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
   
   
   Instructions for Freezing

To Freeze: Prepare through step 4; let cool. Cover tightly with foil, and freeze, up to 3 months.

To Bake From Frozen: Preheat oven to 400, and bake (still covered in foil) on a rimmed baking sheet until center is hot, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove foil; bake until golden, about 15 minutes more.

I hope you will try this! Your husband, children, and dinner guests will be pleased ;)

summing up the holidays

Instead of boring you with lots of words about how awesome our holidays were, which they were, and how much we enjoyed spoiling our chrildren for christmas, which we did, I would much rather share our moments in pictures :)

There was cookie making

Present wrapping

We had the kids open a present on Christmas Eve that contained new jammies, hot chocolate and marshmellows, and a new Christmas book!

Cookies were left for Santa

The hubs and me stayed up late filling the stockings, putting bikes together, and building this...

There were lots of smiles Christmas morning!!! Ryder got a Polaris

 

 

ClaireBell got a tricycle

 



I got a brand new iPhone5..what?! not pictured here, but believe me, I'm LOVING it!

Dakota got a PS3! woop woop! but Candyland was played this day instead ;)

 



And this is what the family room looked like after the morning explosion

 

 

Wish I had time to go into more detail!! We spent the weekend before Christmas at my parents house, Christmas Eve and Christmas morning we spent together as a foursome, and then later that afternoon went to the in-laws for Christmas dinner!

 

Happy New Year to you all!! Its gonna be a good one.

 





2013, here I come!!

Wow...how do you catch up after months of not blogging?? Why do I feel the need to catch up? Can I just start over...pretend like this is my first post and share the news from here on out?? But what about all those sweet Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and everything in between pictures I just knew I would share with you? ugh.

Well, let me start with this.....today is my little sisters birthday :)  22 Woop Woop! She is marrying her best friend this summer and graduating from college the month before! Exciting stuff, right?! We have had such fun planning wedding stuff, trying on dresses....lots and lots of dresses! pinning "must-have's" on Pinterest, and flipping through catalogs.I am so excited to see each little decision made and let me tell you, its coming together just beautiful :)

Happy birthday, Christina! I hope this year is amazing!

I am looking forward to this year! Lots of things on my "to-do" list, resolutions made, friendships I am hoping to strengthen and a family I can't wait to know, love, and serve better.

Look for a post tonight or tomorrow with lots of pics and a glance back on 2012!! Thank you for reading and sticking with me and my inconsistant blogging! haha. until later....

Happy Thursday, friends.