Family Pictures...6 months late!

This last April we took family pictures while Curtis was up for a visit.  It was funny getting everything ready for the pictures, but the photo shoot was way too short. We have been to Vail Studios for family pictures several times in the past and they did some senior pictures for Nancy.  It was funny meeting with the second generation of photographers.

making wishes

 Curtis and the boys

 Mommy and boys

I will take more family pictures for Christmas cards...hopefully next month when my mom is here.  Thing 2 is sitting here with me telling me "how much fun it was to have daddy here to take me to the Aquarium, because I like daddy!"

Sand Hollow State Park

 Throw back Thursday! I finally downloaded the pictures off my camera this morning and look at the treasures I found. Since we are new to this area my sister took us to all the watering holes around.  We were at Sand Hallow State Park in August and although the water had things growing in it and it was beyond windy, it was still really fun in the water. 

 You like Carson's goggles? He walked around all summer with goggles on.  I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to spend every moment with my boys for the summer, what a blessing.

 There was sand in everything which is why Logan is under the table (there was also no shade either, HOT).

 My nephew, Brogan, eating all the food that my boys dropped! Love this age and that everything must be consumed!

What's on your shelves?

Moving away from home has taught me a lot about self reliance. When I moved to Southern Utah in July I had to solely depend on the food I had on the shelf and in my freezer. I struggled not being able to go to the store to buy apples or string cheese just because we wanted them, but I learned how to cook with what I have on hand. Last week I was asked to prepare some items that I had on my shelves that I could prepare dinner with if I couldn't go to the store. After I got over the first few minutes  of confusion of who was on the phone, (ruling out telemarketers) I realized I was not like most people, in fact I might be considered compulsive.
The conversation did lead me to consider what I might be missing on my shelves. Because I've lived the closest to my mom I have been reaping the fruits of her harvests/talents for several years. Along with plenty of kidney beans and dried onions I have meat, fruits, vegetables, pie fillings, jams and jelly's, but what else would be nice...bread.  This week through the power of Pinterest I have come up with a lot of really good ideas.  One of the genius ideas are to just to have the dry ingredients in a jar to make cookies or sweet bread, this will keep for 3 months and can make great hostess/visiting teaching gifts when in a bind.  My mom started making brown bread a few years ago and when I talked to her a few days ago she had just opened a can that she canned 3 years ago.  She said it just needed to be warmed up a little and tasted just as good if not better then the day she made it.  Just a little side note she also said that she after canning brown bread she prefers to let it sit for at least a month before opening it. In case you were wondering I am going to start working on canning breads.  I have had friends share Amish Friendship starts and I never wanted to take the time to actually try it myself. It takes 10 days to get 4 loaves of bread, but you can also share 3 of those with friends to start their own starts and to do what they please.

On Monday I made some banana bread in a jar and tried a new recipe from Chiquita Moms that was delicious and it sealed perfectly. It was so easy I was able to mix it up with a fork instead of my precious Bosch mixer...I haven't found that box.

Chiquita Banana Bread in a Jar

Ingredients 

3 Ripe Chiquita Bananas

1/2t. Baking Soda

1 C. Sugar

1 1/2 C. Flour

 1/2 t. Cinnamon

1/4 C. Chopped Walnuts

1 Egg

2 t. Butter

a Pinch of Salt

3 wide mouth Pint Jars

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Lightly spray jars with cooking spray.
2. Mash bananas and blend with baking soda, sugar, flour, cinnamon, egg, butter and salt.  
3. Pour mixture into jars, filling halfway using a funnel.
4. Place pint jars (without lids) directly on the middle rack in the oven and bake for 45 minutes.
5. Screw on lids and turn upside down to help seal.

3 Ripe Chiquita Bananas
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 Cup Sugar
1 1/2 Cup Flour
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 Cup Chopped Walnuts
1 Egg
2 tbsp Butter
Pinch of Salt
Cooking Spray
3 Pint Mason Jars
Canning Funnel
Fabric
Jute or String
Scissors
Sticker Paper or Cardstock
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly spray jars with cooking spray.
2. Mash bananas and blend with baking soda, sugar, flour, cinnamon, egg, butter and salt. Mix in walnuts with a spoon.
3. Pour mixture into jars, filling halfway, using a canning funnel.
4. Place jars (without lids) directly on the middle rack in the oven and bake for 45 minutes.
5. Screw on lids. Cut fabric into 6 inch circles for each jar and place on top of lid, securing with jute or string.
- See more at: http://www.chiquitamoms.com/2012/09/chiquita-banana-bread-in-a-jar-printable/#sthash.4eF3m97C.dpuf

3 Ripe Chiquita Bananas
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 Cup Sugar
1 1/2 Cup Flour
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 Cup Chopped Walnuts
1 Egg
2 tbsp Butter
Pinch of Salt
Cooking Spray
3 Pint Mason Jars
Canning Funnel
Fabric
Jute or String
Scissors
Sticker Paper or Cardstock
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly spray jars with cooking spray.
2. Mash bananas and blend with baking soda, sugar, flour, cinnamon, egg, butter and salt. Mix in walnuts with a spoon.
3. Pour mixture into jars, filling halfway, using a canning funnel.
4. Place jars (without lids) directly on the middle rack in the oven and bake for 45 minutes.
5. Screw on lids. Cut fabric into 6 inch circles for each jar and place on top of lid, securing with jute or string.
- See more at: http://www.chiquitamoms.com/2012/09/chiquita-banana-bread-in-a-jar-printable/#sthash.4eF3m97C.dpuf

 I was able to bring the canned bread to Relief Society and now maybe everyone else will give bread a try too. We might have something more then canned green beans and chicken in our food storage after this adventure after all!

Homemade Instant Oatmeal

I've been looking at my food storage and ways to utilize it better to help stretch my budget, so I started looking at options. Almost every morning Carson and I share a bowl of oatmeal and since I have 12 #10 cans of instant oatmeal in my closet I need start using it.
I looked all over the internet for options and I came across this recipe from Momables and I am excited to have breakfast in the morning with my Carson.

Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets

21-24 snack sized Ziploc bags
10 cups quick oats
1 t. salt
1 cup brown sugar
2 t. cinnamon
1 cup powdered milk

Instructions

1. Put 6 cups of the oats into a large bowl.
2. Add the remaining 4 cups of oats into a blender.
3. Blend until almost powdery, then pour into the large bowl.
4. Add salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, and powdered milk.
5. Mix well until everything is combined.
6. Measure 1/2 cup of the oatmeal mixture into each snack sized plastic baggie and seal.

To use DIY Instant Oatmeal Packets:

1. Pour packet into a bowl and add desired hit water. Stir and serve.

 This recipe almost cleared out an entire #10 can! 11 more cans to go...hummm.  Gorilla Poop it is, my kids will be sad I'm sure.

It feels like home!

On Monday we began boxing up our lives again to move into a much smaller townhouse. It was not a decision I was thrilled about, but necessary all the same. We would be moving from a twin home to a four-plex that is much smaller without any of the luxuries that we had become accustomed to.
Last night was our first night in the house and that's when I realized that this is where we probably should have started out in the first place.  Maybe I have an unrealistic view of the world or maybe I bit off more than I can chew; either way we are going to make this our home. James and I were able to sit and watch the sun go down together last night.  I don't know why we hadn't noticed the sunset before in our other house 30 feet away, but I loved sharing that moment with him.
The kids celebrated this morning by letting me sleep in until 7:50 and only wanted cereal in our small dinning room. We will probably have to get a storage unit until I can sort out the extras and find room for our long-term food storage. But in the long run we are still saving money. Tomorrow I will start staining the shelving unit in the living room which will help with some of the clutter down stairs.