Yummiest Easy dinner ever!

Make it tonight, you won't regret it. My kids love it.

*White Bean Tortilla Soup*
2 cans Great Northern White beans
1 can Red beans
Cup or so of ckn. (I just use 1 can of chk. drained)
16 oz Salsa
8 oz of shredded cheese
1/2 tsp Cumin

Put all together in a crock pot or pan, bean juices included, and cook until warm, melty and delicious.
Yummy with shredded cheese, sour cream and crunched up tortilla chips on top. mmmm.

Why are you Happy?

I am just starting a new book. Its called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. She explores different things or ideas that make a person happy. Everyone is obviously different and would have different ideas..So she picks 12. Some she's never put to the test and others she knows have generally made her happy before. For example, singing in the morning, Cleaning her closets, reading Aristotle or generally having more fun. Each month she full heartily engages her self/life in the "task" and describes if, why and how it changed her overall happiness and what else she learned.
My educated, book worm friend gave this to me and said that it is in her "I LOVE IT!" category.
For the most part, I would say that I have a LOVE for life and trying to live each day to its fullest. Heck, I'm a psych major so, the things that make people unique and tick have always interested me.

In addition and side note: this time of my life; meaning my family that I grew up in, my parents and siblings, is ROUGH. To say the least. The regular roller coaster ride has been a bit more out of control, with new twists, no seat belts, and an end far off in the distance. I am still happy, because humbly and thankfully SO many of my other "life rides" are ever so smooth and more exciting than I could've imagined.
I've just pondered more lately, like the author Gretchen, what makes one happy and why? I suppose some things are always changing...But the REAL reasons for happiness, I believe, are the constants.

I guess I've just felt a constant reminder and spirit that I know the gospel of Jesus Christ and living worthily by his commandments are the surest way to achieve True Happiness. With this we can hold tight and make it to the end of all our life roller coasters. Even if we are pregnant and throw up a few times along the way.

"There is no duty we so underrate as the duty of being happy."-Robert Louis Stevenson

Just a Few of my favorite simple THINGS..

..That keep me happy throughout the day.

Water is good! Even better now..mmm

Just a small addiction. To help chase the water

Yes, I admit, I enjoy laughing and picking apart this show with my sweet D every monday night

I decided that everyone should have a locket. I wear mine ALL the time. Something great about having something sentimental around your neck. Mine has a pic of Dave and Beck on one side and Me and Roma on the other.

Trendy?! Getting there, perhaps. BUT when I do go out of the house, these shoes SAVE my 31 weeks along-prego body and feetsies. Gotta have the slip ons and so comfty! I'm sold with the TOMS...and of course helping out the chillins in need.

Sick little bugs

There isn't much worse than having your babies sick. I remember when Beckham got throw up SICK for his 1st time. He was about 13 mths old. Dave and I went to get him out of his crib and he was just trembling with a fever. I could tell right then that he was going to throw up. I didn't know what to do but put my hands out and catch most of it. Normally/pre-kid wise I would've thrown up myself, having that in my hands and all over, but I literally teared up for the little guy. You feel so helpless as a mom, when your kid(s) are miserable and look at you with those "fix me" eyes.
Luckily or unluckily after many sicknesses, needle pokes, x-rays, and battle wounds Dave and I became a little more used to it and less anxious. Probably never goes away entirely.??

The kids and I spent a good amount of time at the doc this morning to find out that Roma has Croup. Both her and Beck man have the deep thick cough, but she has had a high fever, scratchy weak voice and sad breathing troubles for 2 days. Nights are rough.
On the way to the doc. this morning she was telling Beck and I that she was going to get a shot and some new medicine. I'm guessing that the shot idea came from the fact that just two days ago I had a regular pregnancy visit with the same doc. and had to get my Rhogam shot. She was prepared for it regardless and surprisingly ended up having to need one. Her planning must of helped because that tough girl didn't even cry. I was so impressed. Cuz I was bawling...kidding.
When all was said and done, 2 1/2 hrs later, both her and Beckham walked out with suckers, stickers, a toy and McD's on the way home.
Didn't you love that part of going to the doctor or dentist when you were a kid. My fave was the banana creamy I'd get after the dentist.

Anyways- Hoping for a little more sleep and less anxiety for everyone. Get those Sick Bugs outta here!

Moonlight mischief

Everyone has been a HOOLIGAN at some point or another. Right? No matter who you are and what grades you pull, seems like we all have stories of toilet papering, lighting pumpkins on fire, egging, throwing water balloons at cars, or door bell ditching while leaving something unpleasant on the doorstep.....just to name a FEW of the late night boredom/peer pressure games. AND NO, I am not guilty for all of these. But I too had my share of shenanigans. That word alone make me happy...?

This was the conversation between Dave and I shortly after he had called the cops late Friday night/Saturday morn at about 1230am.

We were just getting in bed and the moon was full and bright. - Probably not the best lighting for said shenanigans.
Dave opened our bedroom blinds explaining that I had to check it out. I was already stage 2 sleeping so rolled over mumbling to shut those things. He then says that a car just pulled up to the neighbors house and 5 guys are running around their driveway, sneaking, ducking and taking their reflector poles. He then watched them pull up to OUR driveway, get out and run around in their camo. BANG!
I'm out of stage 2 and ask him what that noise was. He says, "I can't see for sure because our mailbox is behind the tree but I'm pretty sure they just karate chopped our box in half."
Then luckily they drove off.

And thats what happened. 5 camo boys karate chopped our metal standing mailbox in half and left it dead on the road.
Not bad at all, right? Kinda made me laugh actually. They were busted, cops talked to their mommies and the next day they all showed up on my doorstep with an apology and a plan "to make things right."
They were so embarrassed.
Beckham and Roma thought the whole thing was great. Watching them fix our box, come to our door a few times, and then shovel the driveway the next morning. I couldn't resist taking a couple pics...for Dave at work, since I knew he probably taught and would know all 5 boys.

Have you ever been busted or chased down for shenanigans??? I totally remember my dad getting in his car and chasing kids that did stuff like that to our house growing up.


Is it just as bad to put their pics up? haha. DONE.

Scrumptial-icious

I have always been a fan of rice pudding and bread pudding.

Those "texture" people have a hard time with these yummy treats, my Dave Carter being one of them. Soggy, warm and sugary seems impossible to deny, for me anyways! Seriously I'm eating my 1st ever self made batch of bread pudding and am dying over it. Tastes like the middle of a yummy cinnamon roll. Which makes me think I should add icing to it, yum! This recipe I got from my friend Carli's blog and had to share.

Rice pudding I've made several times before because my Gram Sherrie is an expertise at the recipe and has been feeding it to us grand kids since we were babes. Here are both recipes for your enjoyment. Try it out. You won't regret.

Bread Pudding
1c. granulated sugar
5 large eggs
2 c. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
6 c. cubed bread (heaping)-torn up in large pieces and set out over night or more.
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. butter, softened
1 c. pecans or dried fruit

Grease 9 x 13 glass pan.
Beat eggs in bowl. Add granulated sugar, milk, vanilla and mix.
Pour egg mix over cubed bread, let sit for 10 min.
Mix in a separate bowl: brown sugar, butter and pecans/fruit into a crumble texture. Set aside.
Pour saturated bread mix into 9 x 13 prepared pan.
Sprinkle brown sugar mix on top.

Bake at 350 for 40-45 min or until set.

Make sure the clearance above your pan is over 2" so it when baking it doesn't rise into another rack or top of oven.



Rice Pudding
Make 1 C. of white rice
soak raisins in some warm water until slightly larger than add to the done rice
In a separate glass bowl (about 2.5 qt size) add:
6 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
1 C. sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. vanilla and Stir

Pour on top of the mixture milk, until bowl is ~1/2 full
Then stir in rice.

Put in oven @ 400 degrees ( I go 410 for hi elevation)
for 20-25 minutes. The top will be slightly bouncy to touch and look separated from bottom mixture.

Just Blowin' in the wind

This morning it was beautiful. Blue skies, above freezing and french toast. What is happening out there? These winds have picked up and here come somes sleety looking stuff along with the neighbors recycling bins.
I have to admit. I am ready for warmer weather.
Warmer weather all around. Mentally and physically.
My half eaten pregnant mind has been having a rough go these past few months.
Growing babies is rough-Yes. But I am a poor sport when it comes to anything that SLOWS me down. This time round, with baby #3, I have been forced to give up my active lifestyle and learn to CHILL. Literally.
I decided that being pregnant is a preparation stage for growing old. Looking in the mirror and finding a new varicose vein, a dark splotch across your face, stretch mark, head flakes....and the list surprising goes on. I laugh. I do. But when I've laughed enough I completely freak out. LIKE any lady with fetus should. ITs a miraculous Insanity I tell you.
I suppose this is becoming the prego "update" so I may as well add that I am now:
28 weeks and into my 3rd and final trimester.
The Countdown is a better # to me, coming in at 11 weeks 5 days till DUE DATE (5/9/11)
Baby girl is now 17in. 2.9 lbs and feels like ....haha. a little LOT more than that.

Did I mention we're having a GIRL. Cutesy poootsy baby girl. Dave has expressed his worry of being outnumbered by girls long before this tie breaker came into the picture. With him being a middle school counselor and seeing my 3 sisters grow up from tweeen to family drama queens....Its really no wonder he has some qualm. And that is a WHOLE other post. haha. I love you sisters.! All girls I suppose have there own gender causing drama. As read in above "update"...just some isn't as parent pressing.
>>>>And this is where a Definite I LOVE my parents comes in.

Anyways, Wow. It's been a while since I have put any thoughts into writing. I may need to warm up to this. Right now I feel like I could spill my guts, dish the dirt and be much better for it. deep sigh. AND I won't because this is the World Wide Web for crying out. Let me warm up- then, I suppose you better watch out.

Here are some pics of things we are up to.
Also---HUGE huge public pregnant drama appreciation for my sweetest Mr. D Carter. He is the SUPER est SUPER dad that I've ever seen or heard of. Takes the kids swimming like every other day, Makes dinners, lets me sleep in those rare times, laundry, cleaning tornado of a man and I Caught him. He's mine. Happy Love month. February went by much faster than J an u a ryyyy.