A Calorie Free Piece of Heaven

Okay, so that's totally not true--at least the "calorie free" part! But here is another yummy family recipe that I don't think got put into the cookbook a few of us participated in recently:

Caramel Marshmallow Balls

1 lb Caramels
1/2 cube butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk (enough to thin the above mixture. I have to add more periodically the longer it sits on the burner)

Melt together, dip large marshmallows in caramel mixture, then roll in Rice Krispies.

Pretty easy and WAY GOOD! They are actually better if you let them sit for a day before you eat them. But honestly, who can wait?

I have tried to think of a way to add some chocolate to this recipe. I mean, what goes better with caramel and marshmallows than chocolate?

Recipes Just Don't Do It...Or So Says My Husband

Derrick told me that I need to update the blog because "recipes just don't do it." So I guess I'll give an update on what's going on with us.

The Restaurant:

The signs are going up! Progress is being made! The fire sprinklers went in last week, and the drywall is going up. Our head chef and Manager finished their training in Utah, so now we've got to get the rest of our crew hired and get this place open! We have been working on our plans for the grand opening, and are getting excited! Good Job Derrick for getting all of the many tasks on your list completed.

Our American Fork House:

A few of you may remember me writing about the home we were building in Utah before we decided to move down to NM. It's pretty close to being completed. Here are a few updated pictures. I'll get some better ones of the inside of the home the next time I go up there. It should be complete in about a week or so.

Cecily:

What can I say about my favorite girl? I took her on her first official "Play Date" today, and she had a great time. She loves being around little kids, and she actually shared when I told her she needed to share! (I was so proud!)

Cecily has started sleeping in a big bed. We had started having her sleep in our guest bedroom bed, because she was getting so crowded in her crib with all of the toys she brings to bed with her (as well as the fact that she is just getting so big!). So when Grandpa Tornow came to stay with us a few nights ago, she was a little bugged that she didn't get to sleep in "her" bed!

She loves to play with her big legos.

She loves bean burritos.

My favorite thing she says: "Oh, thank you, mommy!"

She has these miniature Disney princess dolls, and Belle is her ABSOLUTE favorite! She takes her with her EVERYWHERE! To bed, on walks, to her cousins house, to church, to the grocery store, everywhere! She is a total mommy to her Belle doll. We had dinner at Mike and Ivy's house (Derrick's brother & sister-in-law who live here in Farmington), and as we were leaving Cecily absolutely went to pieces when we put her in the car. It wasn't until we were almost home that we realized that she was saying "Belle" (not ball, like we thought). I had forgotten that she had taken Belle to their house, so we felt REALLY bad that we caused Cecily's baby to be left. And that's exactly how Cecily felt about it! Bebe Numero Dos:

We went to our appointment earlier this week to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. Dr. V couldn't find the baby's heartbeat, so he sent us over to the hospital for an ultrasound. Everything is fine, but the baby is just measuring smaller than the 13 weeks they thought I was at (which is why my due date has changed on my counter. The new estimated due date is March 8th). It was really fun to see the baby. He was moving his arms and legs like crazy. It's so amazing that something so small can be so developed! I'm in love with this kid already!

Rotten Bananas

Just a quick recipe in case any of you are looking for something to do with your brown bananas but don't want banana bread. This recipe has been in our family cookbook forever. Tell me if I'm wrong, mom, but I think it came from one of my great grandmas or something. (All of the best cakes in the book came from them!)

BANANA CAKE

3/4 C Margarine
1 1/2 C Sugar
1 C mashed bananas
1 t vanilla
1/2 C chopped nuts (optional)
3 unbeaten egg yolks
3 C flour
3 t baking powder
1 1/2 C milk
2 t vinegar
1 t baking soda
3 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Combine margarine, sugar, bananas, and vanilla; beat until fluffy. Add egg yolks. Beat well. Add dry ingredients, milk and vinegar. Fold in egg whites. Bake in greased dripper pan at 350 for appx 40 minutes.

I like to top it with a cream cheese frosting. YUMMY!

I've Been Tagged...by Kellie!

1. How did you meet your spouse?


Derrick's roommate Jonathan was friends with my girlfriends and we all met up at Riverwoods in Provo to caravan up to Park City for dinner and games. When we met up with them, I saw Derrick for the first time and he was driving a bright yellow H2. This was back when Hummers were a novelty, and I remember thinking "Oh, gag, he probably thinks he's such a stud and has to have the perfect model girlfriend." So I was not expecting to have much interest in him, nor for him to have any in me. But he sat across from me at the Thai restaurant we went to, and since he had never eaten Thai food, he asked if I wanted to share something. Now if Derrick is telling the story, this is where he pipes in with "Oh, I wasn't just talking about sharing a meal, I was talking about sharing our lives together." Can it get more cheesy?!!? I love it! Anyway, to end the story, we ended up talking all night and both leaving wanting to get to know each other better.

2. What can you live without?

Stress and Cleaning



3. 3 Favorite Books

The Count of Monte Cristo

Jane Eyre

Pride & Prejudice

Yes, I am a fan of the classics!


4. Who was your first kiss?

I don't really want to say! Not that he isn't a cool guy. But it's just weird! Let's see if any of you can guess. I bet that Becky can figure it out if she thinks real hard!

5. What was your favorite subject in school?

Geology in 12th grade. Not exactly the subject, but the class was full of awesome, awesome people. The teacher was cool, and the field trips were a blast!





7. What do you do to get ready for bed?

Brush my teeth. Wash my face. Floss. Check on Cecily. Get in my pj's. Hop in bed. Kiss my hunny bunny goodnight. Watch the news until I go to sleep (This is a bad habit I learned from my husband. But at least I turn the timer on rather than have the TV on all night!)




7. If you were stranded on an island what is the one thing you would want to have?
Honestly, I would want my husband! We'd have such a blast!



8. Describe your ideal vacation (where, how long, who with, etc.)

Right now, I am really in the mood for a nice, romantic vacation on a beach somewhere with my husband. Of course, we'd both look absolutely fabulous in our swimsuits, I wouldn't be pregnant, and we would have a fantastic babysitter hanging out with our kids when we wanted to have some alone time (Cecily is just so dang cool---how could we leave her home?) Hmm. Now that I'm thinking about it, I think we'll go to Italy. No...how about Greece? Okay, I'll take anywhere at this point. I'm just ready for ANY vacation!


9. How did you know you were in love?You will think I'm full of crap, but I knew from the day I met Derrick that I would marry him. (And, NO, I did not think that about every guy I dated!) So I can't exactly remember a day that I KNEW I was in love. I think I just always was!



10. What is your favorite kind of gum?

It has to be sugarless, and I can't chew it for more than a half hour maximum, or it drives me nuts!

I Scored!

Look at the fun surprise I had sitting at my door when I got home this afternoon! Yep, that's right! I scored! I was having a frustrating day today, and my darling husband made it all better! I love him! And not just because he sends me flowers. He really is just such a great guy! I am so lucky to have found such a sweetie. I kind of feel bad, because he is working so hard up in Utah and he STILL does nice things for me. And what have I done for him? MMM...well, I've complained a lot, cried a lot, not called him as much as I should, done nothing to make his time away from us any fun...the list goes on and on. Poor guy. But I want him to know that I feel like the luckiest gal in the world to have met and married my best friend. It's so cool to know that I get to spend eternity with the funnest guy I know! Derrick, I promise I will try to be a better wife so that you will enjoy me as much as I enjoy you!



Anyway, I have received a few e-mails and comments from a few of you who have noticed the new addition to my blog. Yep, that ticker is counting down the days until Cecily's new baby brother (or sister) is going to join our crazy family. The baby's due date is February 25th. But from the looks of me, you would think it was sooner, as I am already getting pretty dang fat! I was frustrated a couple of months ago because I had suddenly, out of nowhere, gained about 8 pounds. Now, I know I was in the middle of moving, so my eating habits were not fabulous, but I could not believe that I could have gained that much weight so fast! Well, come to find out, I was pregnant! I gained several pounds as soon as I got pregnant with Cecily, as well, so this now makes sense to me. But I was shocked that I was already pregnant, because I had just barely stopped birth control. I think Heavenly Father knew that I had better get pregnant fast, or else I would change my mind about the whole thing!

I have really struggled with the idea of having another baby. In fact, I am still very anxious about it. Not that I didn't want another baby...I wouldn't mind having a few! But I'm one of those women who has had a hard time adjusting to motherhood. I see how wonderful my own mother, sisters and friends are as mothers, and I feel so bad for my children. No, I am not trying to have a pity party and have you guys comment on how "great" I am as a mother. I am just writing about how I truly feel. My feelings are that being a good mother is something I am going to have to work a lot harder at than most mothers. You know, one of those "trials" we get to have here on earth! I know so many women who are just naturally great mothers (not that they don't work at it, because I know they do), and that's something I want to be, and I'm glad I get to learn from them and hopefully get to the point that I feel confident in my own "mothering!" So thank you to all of you wonderful moms out there who don't realize that you are serving as an example to me!

So that's our exciting news! Derrick's ecstatic, since he has wanted another baby ever since Cec was born. His first comment when we got home from the hospital with her was "Where's mine?"

I don't think Cecily quite gets what's going on. Whenever I point to my belly and say "baby," she just looks at me weird. Baby to her is referring to her dolls. She has actually brought one of her "babies" to me and pressed it against my stomach!

Me, well, I'm just tired and nauseated most of the time. I've got it good, though, because it doesn't get any worse for me. Smells really get to me, though. I can't stand the thought of meat when I am pregnant, and usually the only thing that DOES sound good is cold cereal. This baby is going to come out covered in Cinnamon Life Cereal! Okay, I'm totally kidding. That was just gross!

How could I NOT show this kid off?

Take a look at these pictures.

Need I say more? Yes, I realize there are other cute kids out there, but this one came from me & Derrick! Who'd have known? Thanks to Shar Allen who took the pics!

It's about freaking time!

Yes, I am FINALLY taking the time to actually write a post. I have been a little tired (i.e. LAZY) these last few weeks, so the most I have done regarding blogging is read and comment on other people's blogs! And with so much going on in my life right now, it's really quite stupid of me since I have already forgotten all of the "important" things I was going to write about!

So I'll just write about what happens to pop into my head.

The Restaurant:

My handsome stud of a husband is currently in Utah (again) doing training. He is training our manager and head chef up there for the next couple of weeks. Hooray!!! We were very happy that they were willing to go up to good ol' Utah. However, that leaves me without a husband (again) for a couple of weeks. I am staying in Farmington holding down the fort and taking care of whatever Derrick needs me to do for the restaurant while he is away. Hopefully I won't screw everything up! Progress is FINALLY being made on the build-out. We were held up for a couple of weeks waiting for the building permit, but things are really moving now. Here are some pics:

We are really excited about the location. It's a brand new building (very hard to come by in this town) located right on Main Street. There are 4 units in this building and we are taking up the front two with the restaurant.

The framing is now complete.

We are really pleased with how it is turning out, and think that this will be a very nice-looking location. There will be a water wall coming down from the "figure-8-looking" area.

Our Home:

Melinda Stailey's husband will probably think I am crazy for saying this, but I LOVE FARMINGTON! I love living here! I love the people here! No, there is not much to do, but I really am enjoying my time here so far! We've already made some great friends, and after the last neighborhood we lived in, it has been a breath of fresh air to feel like our neighbors actually like us! And it just continues to get better. It will be nice, once things calm down with the restaurant, to explore this town a little more. I keep meaning to take pictures of our house, but I always forget to take them when it's clean, and I still have some unpacking to do and a few pieces of furniture to purchase. But here are a few I have been able to get:

Who would have known I'd live in such a strange looking house? But hey, when in Rome...(I mean Farmington) The door is pretty ugly, so we are going to get a new one, and hopefully we will get a yard in soon. I love our oversized 3-car garage. Garages in our neighborhood are apparently required to have extra space...for a golf cart. (No, our extra space doesn't contain a golf cart--although Derrick already plans to get one so he and a few of the neighbors can start their "golf cart posse." Our extra space is currently full of boxes, and I am happy to have the extra room!)

We love to relax out on our back patio. It is fun to watch the sky here. It rains just about every night, and you can literally watch the storms roll in. We get some pretty awesome lightning storms. It's funny, though, because it can pour all night long, and there is no sign of it in the morning because the soil just sucks the water right up!

Our Living Room

I still have pictures and things to hang on the walls, and I would like to get a nice coffee table.

We had our builder customize our fireplace. We don't like the style they do here, so it was probably a frustrating job for our builder to figure out what the heck we wanted, but we thought he did a pretty good job!

Our Bare Family Room

Cecily's Room

The Master Bedroom

The Master Bath

Cecily:

Cecily has been such a good little girl. She is such a good helper and so nice to have around, especially since Derrick has been gone so much. I think she misses him when he is gone, though, because whenever she is around any other father figure when Derrick is gone, she will cuddle up to them and play. She couldn't care less about me! But I love her so much! My mom says that I take more pictures of Cecily asleep than awake, and here I've done it again. I just can't help it! She's so stinking funny!

She insists on taking a few toys to bed with her, and when she wakes up, she has to take everything out (including all of her pillows and blankets!) And yes, she STILL loves stickers, although she has found a new favorite spot to layer them on!