The Gumball Machine is Back!

Cade and Chloe are so alike in many ways, it's a little scary.  They both like the same shows as little kids, they both can't sit still, and they have the same motivators to be potty trained. When I got back from Lake Powell I rededicated myself to try to potty train Chloe.  I know that it's all about timing but when all the kids her age and younger are done then I put the pressure on myself to get it done.  So the immediate reward is a gumball, I bought this when Cade was going through the process.  Cade loved it then and Chloe loves it now.  I should rephrase that, all of my kids love it, Cade and Claire think that if they go to the bathroom then they get a gumball too!  I hear them asking me a lot after they go.  The long term motivator for when she is done is Disneyland that is what it was for Cade too.  She's also like Cade in that one part of potty training is going to be difficult, I'll let you figure that out.  So the adventure begins... I can't wait until it's over!

Cade leads the school

While we were at Lake Powell Cade's class was in charge of leading the school in the pledge of allegiance and he got to do it one day!  Mandy and Erich practiced with him so he would be ready. So here he is in action!

Lake Powell

Last week we were so lucky to go to Lake Powell with Bruce and Lisa King, Jerry and Jackie King and Casey's parents.  This is our third year going and we have so much fun every year.  It was very relaxing, I took so many naps, I'm embarrassed to count.   A lot of that was because I was STILL sick and didn't have much energy.  Because I had so much junk in my chest I wasn't able to stay in the water very long without having a coughing fit.  The weather was perfect and the water was perfect and the food was, as always, excellent.  We were so lucky that Mandy and Erich came to watch the kids otherwise it wouldn't have been possible so thank you.  Check out this entry and this one to hear about their experience here.  

Cade lost his first tooth!

What a big event for our first child!  It was an exciting experience for us all.  He wasn't looking forward to his teeth coming out even though a lot of his friends have already lost their teeth.  I thought he was going to be the kind that wouldn't let anyone touch it even when it was barely hanging on, but he was tough!  It was getting pretty loose so tonight after dinner we made him eat an apple and after a couple of bites, it came out in his mouth.  He got cheers from the whole family and the missionaries were here for dinner so they got to join in on the fun too!  The Tooth Fairy will make her first appearance in our home tonight!

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

My friend who is into nutrition and working out gave this recipe to me and I love it!  It's a great source of healthy protein and is delicious over brown rice.  It makes a lot so you will have plenty for lunch the next day.  It's actually a recipe that she changed to make healthier.  I put the ingredients that I used and the actual ingredients in parenthesis 

1 1/4 lbs ground turkey (1- 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef)

3/4 cups rolled oats - add more until it has a thicker consistency about 1/4 cup more

2 egg whites (2 eggs)

1/2 cup finely chopped onions

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp salt

Few grains pepper

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Sauce

1/2 cup honey (1/2 cup brown sugar)

1/4 cup vinegar

1 tsp prepared mustard

1/4 cup low sugar teriyaki sauce (1/4 cup BBQ sauce)

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Combine all ingredients; mix well.  (I think because it is ground turkey it will be a little more wet than if using beef) Form into balls, each about 2 inches in diameter.  Place in a casserole dish.  Combine sauce ingredients and blend thoroughly.  Heat and pour over meatballs.  Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.  This made 2 casserole pans full.  

FYI

I'm all about sharing important information and here is a good one.  If you get a fever, make sure you go to the doctor within 48 hours.  Don't have the mentality that it will go away on it's own.  I am going on day number 4 of having a fever and missed that 48 hour mark and so now I just have to wait it out and have it takes it's course.  I keep thinking I am getting better and the fever comes back.  Ugh!  I can't tell you how frustrating it is and I am SICK (no pun intended) of sweating (I do that enough living in Las Vegas) and being cold!  Hopefully I'm on the downhill side.  Anyway, so go to the doctor so he can give you medicine so you can start feeling better and not have to wait it out like me.  :(

Caramel Chip Bars

If you know me well, you know that I am a sucker for caramel, it's my favorite.  I would take it over chocolate in a heart beat.  So of course I have to try recipes that include them.  These are very rich and I didn't want them in my house so I sent them to work with Casey and they were devoured in no time.

1/2 cup butter, cubed

32 caramels

1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk

1 package yellow cake mix

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

2 cups mini chocolate chips

1 cup vanilla or white chips

1 Heath candy bar, chopped

In a large saucepan, combine the butter, caramels and milk; cook and stir over medium low heat until smooth.  Cool.

In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, oil and eggs until blended.  Stir in chips and chopped candy bar (dough will be stiff)  

Press 3/4 into a greased 9x13 pan Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  Place on a wire rack for 10 minutes.  

Pour caramel mixture over crust.  Drop remaining dough by spoonfuls onto caramel layer.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes; run a knife around the edges of  pan.  Cool 40 minutes longer; cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.