Summer Grillin'

I have come up with a brilliant meal-planning solution.

Are you ready for this? It's revolutionary.

Purchase propane.

Of course, it helps if you own a gas grill. I suppose you could use charcoal, too, but don't forget to fire up the coals long before you're starving!

It just so happens that Ty loves to grill. It just so happens that we love chicken. And it just so happens that I prefer cooking up a few good sides to planning an entire meal.
And did I mention boneless, skinless chicken breast has been constantly on sale here for $1.99/lb?! Win, win, win, win!

We're athletes now. Chicken is practically a prescription drug for those on a regular work-out routine, right?

Chicken?!

We're one week into this new meal plan, and so far we are fat and happy. (Full and happy?)
My shopping list is simplified to about ten pounds of meat and all the fresh produce we could want. (And peanut butter. Let's not forget the essentials.)

Last week I had a lot of fun cooking up different veggies and trying a few new recipes. For instance, we discovered we love butternut squash with a little butter and cinnamon. Per Glenna's suggestion, I threw some peppers and artichoke hearts on the skillet and then sprinkled them with feta cheese - perfection!

I guess the real test starts next week when school begins. I'm hoping this will be a time saver for me. As of now, we couldn't be happier.

I think some burgers may be in order for my grillin' master husband. He da best.
*Adds red meat to shopping list*

Enjoy a few of our good eats from last week!

BBQ chicken, butternut squash, cheesy broccoli, black beans, strawberries

Citrus chicken with peppers and artichokes; peaches and blueberries drizzled with honey

White wine chicken with mushrooms and wild rice; blueberries; salad with cucumbers, red onion, and feta

BBQ chicken with green beans and roasted carrots

The "Green Machine" - honey mustard chicken with grapes, green beans, and homemade guac

Hey, Babe

Six years later and I love you more.

2008

2008

Last year's 6/21 celebration

Fun together!

(No, it's not our wedding anniversary, but it's our "going together" anniversary!)

Surprise, Surprise

Ty turned 25 last week!

In the span of ten days, I came up with two crazy ideas:

1. Throw Tyler a surprise birthday party at his parents' house

2. Buy him a fishing kayak (also a surprise!)

Neither of these ideas would have made it past the brainstorming phase if it hadn't been for Ty's mom! She grabbed onto my ideas and ran with them! Thanks, Mamacita!

This post is about idea number 2.

Originally I had wanted to have the kayak at the house when he arrived for the surprise party. I found a used kayak - the exact model I had researched and chosen! - with all the fishing bells and whistles (read: rod holders, anchor, etc.) about an hour and a half from home. In order to accommodate all our various schedules, we loaded Ty up in the wagon and told him he had to take us to pick up his early birthday present. Heh, heh. Trailer park, cash deal? Let's just say we felt safer with him along. 

But first! Dinner, handed to us by CFA's cutest employee!

Here she is!

Ty was so funny when we arrived at the owner's home. He still had no idea what we were purchasing, though his best guess was saddle bags for his motorcycle. He was utterly surprised. He looked it over and approved it, so he loaded it up on our wagon and we drove on home. About twenty minutes down the road, his face lit up and he erupted in a sincere, "Thank you so much, guys!" He's a processor. I knew if he liked it when he saw it, he'd fall in love with it even more as time went on. (In fact, he's out enjoying the kayak right now, for the second time today!)

When we arrived home, he looked over every inch of the boat. This is his, "Really? You need a picture of me in the kayak in the garage" face. (Why yes, yes, I do.)

In action! Wish I had some of his bass pictures, too!

Brooklyn and I have enjoyed sitting on the shore while Ty is on the water. Brooklyn swims, too!

This lake backs up to our favorite dog park. Win, win!

(Except for me, maybe, since I was covered in mud...)

When I decided to climb a tree (you know, just to make it the quintessential Florida day!), Someone tried to join me!

Happy birthday, Tyler!

Glad you are still (this very minute!) loving your gift!

The Waiting Game

When I was young, I saved my pet sitting money and dreamed up my next big purchase - like a Razor Scooter, a security camera for my bedroom (true story), a phone-booth telephone for my room, a CD Walkman, and eventually a laptop.

Thankfully, my parents thwarted some of my crazier ideas, and in the process taught me a great lesson about patience. My dad required me to wait ten days and think about my purchase. If I still deemed the purchase worthwhile at the end of the ten-day period, he would drive me to the store to spend my hard-earned dollars.

Frustrating, to say the least! Today, however, I am grateful for this lesson. Not only has it saved me from numerous impulse purchases and rash decisions, but it has also proved that waiting for something you care about is worthwhile.

But what about big life decisions?

Often we're asked to wait: by parents, employers, institutions, or our Heavenly Father.

Tyler and I wanted to wed sooner. I had dreamed of a December wedding.

Instead we were asked to wait. In return, we received the blessing of our parents, the presence of our beloved families...and a July wedding. Looking back, I wouldn't have it any other way. God's timing was perfect.

It is always perfect. The wait is always worth it in God's story. He loves to bless His children.

I trained hard for my marathon and planned to cross the finish line in under four hours. Red light. You can't plan around hospital visits.

While I still feel some disappointment, I also have an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my returning health. The fact that I was well enough to audition was a gift straight from Heaven.

Now I find myself in the waiting game yet again. We have some direction and information from my school choices, but not enough to make a decision or move forward. Schools operate on their own timetables, and I will not always be first on the list.

It would be easy to mope around or wallow in anxiety. Sometimes I'm halfway there. I'm taking it one day at a time, loving the opportunities and relationships in front of me.

On a perfect Friday afternoon, Brooklyn and I headed to my parents' neighborhood lake and soaked up the beauty of it all.

Brooklyn is my daily reminder that, "LIFE IS AWESOME!!!!" because she embraces every moment as if it is the best moment of her life.

February Is My Favorite

I know this month is short a few days, but February has gone by exceptionally fast this year!

We returned home from all the audition craziness and hit the road running!

I celebrated Valentine's Day with my Papa at his memory care facility. Being far away made me remember how important family truly is.

Ty's cousin, Meghan, came to visit, and we enjoyed canoeing and ice cream with the fam!
Brooklyn even went on her first canoe trip, but there is no photo evidence.

(Would you have taken your phone in a canoe with a crazy Weimaraner? Didn't think so.)

The very next day, our Japanese exchange student arrived!

Meet Moe!

(Pronounced Mo-eh)

Brooklyn is already quite attached.

Okay, so the main reason February is my favorite is because it's my birthday month. And the way I was raised was to celebrate all month long. (As I've aged, the celebrations have shortened to about a week. Growing up stinks sometimes, doesn't it?)

Birthday mail from Laos!

Check out how much Brooklyn has grown since my last birthday!

Did you know just how many free things you can get on your birthday? It's amazing, really. I ran out of time trying to do them all!

The morning began with a free breakfast (with my fab parents!) and continued with a free car wash, free smoothie, and a free sub! Ty was the lucky beneficiary of my free sub from Firehouse.

Then it was onto the happiest place on earth on my happy day!

(And yes, for free! My favorite cast member is awesome!)

EARS!

Please notice Ty's button.

It doesn't get any better than this, folks!

Ty's very first time on Small World!

We both maxed out the points on Buzz Lightyear!
In all honesty, the ride broke down in the middle, so we had a little extra time. :)

The main event for the day was dinner at Be Our Guest. I love this restaurant at lunch time, but I had never been for dinner due to the fact that reservations are so limited.

I was slightly disappointed with our seats, but I blame myself for not specifying.

Overall I loved the food and atmosphere. This is definitely one of my favorite places to eat at Disney.

Per Disney protocol, the chef came to our table and listed out my numerous gluten-free options. He even brought me GF dinner rolls to enjoy before the meal! I highly recommend the potato soup.

When your reservation is called, you are handed a Lumiere to help guide you to your seats.

Tale as old as time...

One of the features of this restaurant during dinner hours is that the Master of the House is present.
He is dramatically announced and shown through the dinning rooms to his study where he later greets guests.

We met him post-dinner!

Moe's homestay group just happened to be at Magic Kingdom on my birthday, so we planned to meet up with her after dinner and stay at the park late.

We may or may not have had some sweet fast-passes from our favorite cast member...

In line for Big Thunder 

Space time!

So fun to share in Moe's Disney visit!

It seems I always have soaring expectations for my birthday and then wind up disappointed.

Not so this year!

I could not have imagined a more wonderful day.

We we arrived home, Moe gave me this:

My new favorite morning mug!

Several families from our church are also hosting, so we have tried to organize events together with our students. Of course we had to introduce them to Tijuana Flats!

In the midst of the celebrations and get-togethers, there has also been some sweet time of rest.

We've needed it! Big decisions are ahead, but for now it's soaking in the sun and pestering our families as much as possible!

 

Farewell, February! You are one fine month!